# Frank Doughton — The Secret House character guide > Frank Doughton in The Secret House by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Frank, Doughton, Mr. Doughton, Mr. Frank Doughton **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A plain-speaking Englishman who found a missing heir nobody else could trace, and now finds his own hopes of Doris slipping away to a smooth-tongued count. ## Who they are Frank Doughton is the young man who once held a commission from Farrington to find old Tollington's missing heir — a trail that leads, inconveniently, to Great Bradley and to Poltavo. He loves Doris Gray with an honest, unglamorous devotion, and watches with rising fury as Farrington's letter installs the Count as her trusted adviser and poisons her mind against him. Blunt where Poltavo is silken, he is the story's impatient conscience, forever a step behind the intrigue he can smell but not yet prove. ## Relationships ### [Doris Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/doris_gray) _romantic_ Doris Gray and Frank Doughton share a genuine romantic bond, though it is threatened by Poltavo's interference. ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo views Frank Doughton as a romantic rival and obstacle to his plans. ### [Mr. Gregory Farrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_gregory_farrington) _professional_ Frank Doughton and Mr. Farrington have a professional connection, possibly as employee and employer or business associates. ### [T. B. Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/t_b_smith) _friendship_ Frank Doughton and T. B. Smith are allies, with Smith helping Doughton protect Doris Gray. ### [Lady Constance Dex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/lady_constance_dex) _social_ Frank Doughton and Lady Constance Dex are acquaintances within the same social stratum. ### [George Tollington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/george_tollington) _friendship_ Frank Doughton and George Tollington are friends, with Tollington supporting Doughton's efforts. ### [Mr. Gregory Farrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_gregory_farrington) _professional_ Frank Doughton and Mr. Farrington have a professional connection, possibly as employee and employer or business associates. ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo views Frank Doughton as a romantic rival and obstacle to his plans. ### [George Tollington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/george_tollington) _friendship_ Frank Doughton and George Tollington are friends, with Tollington supporting Doughton's efforts. ### [Doris Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/doris_gray) _romantic_ Doris Gray and Frank Doughton share a genuine romantic bond, though it is threatened by Poltavo's interference. ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo views Frank Doughton as a romantic rival and obstacle to his plans. ### [Doris Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/doris_gray) _romantic_ Doris Gray and Frank Doughton share a genuine romantic bond, though it is threatened by Poltavo's interference. ## In the story ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/iv) A young journalist and short story writer, infatuated with Doris Gray and jealous of Count Poltavo. He is tasked by Farrington with finding the missing Tollington heir. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/v) Referenced as the newsboy messenger who serves Poltavo and previously served Farrington. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/vi) Present in the box, converses with Doris, and is tapped by Lady Dinsmore to change seats. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/vii) Learns of Farrington's suicide and financial collapse; visits Doris and Lady Dinsmore; becomes jealous of Poltavo's influence. ### [The Reading of the Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/x) Confronts Poltavo about a letter from Farrington; is named as the intended husband for Doris in the will. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as the man Farrington wants Doris to marry, though not present in the chapter. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xiii) Shares his discovery of a lost letter from Annie Tollington and expresses his love for Doris Gray. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xiv) Dreams of his upcoming marriage but knows Doris is unwilling; works on articles and investigates a clue; is tricked into a car and attacked. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xv) Found hiding in the outhouse at Moor Cottage; recounts being kidnapped in London and escaping near Great Bradley. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xvi) Marries Doris; learns he is the heir to the Tollington millions, but is stunned by the revelation and Doris's distress. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xix) Mentioned as Doris Gray's husband; Farrington hopes she will come to love him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/frank_doughton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters