# Mr. Gregory Farrington — The Secret House character guide > Mr. Gregory Farrington in The Secret House by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Farrington, Farrington, Gregory, the late Mr. Farrington **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A millionaire who told everyone he'd made a fortune, then apparently drowned himself in the Thames — and nobody who knew him believes he'd do anything so unselfish. ## Who they are Farrington is the wealthy guardian whose supposed suicide — a letter in his own hand, a body in the river, a fortune mysteriously lost — sets every engine of the plot running. But he was a man who never told the truth about his movements, and Lady Dinsmore coolly insists he is no more dead than she is, merely existing surreptitiously for purposes of his own. His letter commanding Doris to marry Frank within seven days, and his role in Lady Constance's old scandal, make him the knot at the center of the mystery. ## Relationships ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo and Mr. Farrington are locked in a bitter power struggle, each seeking to outmaneuver the other. ### [T. B. Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/t_b_smith) _professional_ Mr. Farrington and T. B. Smith have a tense professional relationship, likely as employer and investigator or adversary. ### [Frank Doughton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/frank_doughton) _professional_ Frank Doughton and Mr. Farrington have a professional connection, possibly as employee and employer or business associates. ### [Dr. Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/dr_fall) _professional_ Dr. Fall and Mr. Farrington are co-conspirators in a nefarious plot, bound by mutual self-interest. ### [Doris Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/doris_gray) _psychological_ Mr. Farrington exerts psychological control over Doris Gray, treating her as a pawn in his schemes. ### [Mr. Moole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_moole) _professional_ Mr. Farrington and Mr. Moole have a professional relationship, possibly as employer and employee. ### [Frank Doughton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/frank_doughton) _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) _professional_ Mr. Farrington and T. B. Smith have a tense professional relationship, likely as employer and investigator or adversary. ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo and Mr. Farrington are locked in a bitter power struggle, each seeking to outmaneuver the other. ### [T. B. Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/t_b_smith) _professional_ Mr. Farrington and T. B. Smith have a tense professional relationship, likely as employer and investigator or adversary. ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo and Mr. Farrington are locked in a bitter power struggle, each seeking to outmaneuver the other. ### [Dr. Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/dr_fall) _professional_ Dr. Fall and Mr. Farrington are co-conspirators in a nefarious plot, bound by mutual self-interest. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/ii) Witnesses the quarrel and shooting from his window, provides information to T. B. Smith, and reveals he is being blackmailed by Montague Fallock. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/iv) A millionaire and trustee of the Tollington estate, visibly agitated after receiving a secret warning from a newsboy. He urges Frank to marry Doris and expresses nervousness about a recent shooting. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/v) Cautious and secretive, he agrees to let Poltavo join his party at the Jollity and acknowledges the loss of a friend. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/vi) Sits moodily in the box, is the target of the shot, and disappears after the incident. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as a friend of Lady Constance; his body has been recovered. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as having manipulated Lady Constance's visits to the Secret House for surveillance. ### [The Reading of the Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/x) Deceased; his will is read, revealing his wishes for Doris's marriage and bequests to Frank and T. B. Smith. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xi) Reveals his knowledge of Poltavo's criminal past, refuses to change his will, and threatens Poltavo's life. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xiii) Identified as Montague Fallock, the blackmailer and murderer, currently hiding in the Secret House. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xiv) Referred to as the master blackmailer behind Gossip's Corner and Montague Fallock; insists on Frank and Doris's marriage within a week. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xvi) Referenced through his letter; reveals he used Doris's fortune and orchestrated the marriage, declaring Frank the Tollington heir. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xvii) Revealed by T. B. to have known George Doughton was the Tollington heir, planned Doughton's death, and faked his own death to force a marriage between Frank Doughton and Doris Gray. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xviii) Revealed to be Montague Fallock; Poltavo claims to know his escape plan and agent list. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xix) Confronts Dr. Fall about Poltavo's betrayal, reveals his love for Doris Gray and his role in George Doughton's death, and watches Poltavo's capture from the tower. ### [The Last Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xx) Offers T. B. a deal to escape England; threatens to kill him; reveals the Secret House's elevator system. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xxi) Shot dead by Ela in the underground room. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_gregory_farrington - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters