# T. B. Smith — The Secret House character guide > T. B. Smith in The Secret House by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Smith, T. B., III T. B. Smith **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A methodical detective with a needle, a revolver, and a taste for pipe cleaners, he walks into a tapestry-hung prison and finds Lady Constance — then walks into something worse. ## Who they are T. B. Smith takes charge of the Farrington case and works it with patient, unhurried precision, prying open pick-locks and piecing together a conspiracy that reaches from a foggy London office to the underground cells beneath Great Bradley. He is calm where others panic, and his steady competence makes him the story's spine of investigation. When he steps through a red-painted door and finds Farrington standing over a body, his revolver rises — and the lights go out. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Gregory Farrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_gregory_farrington) _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 T. B. Smith are direct antagonists, with Smith hunting Poltavo's criminal activities. ### [Dr. Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/dr_fall) _rivalry_ Dr. Fall and T. B. Smith are adversaries, with Smith pursuing Fall for his role in criminal experiments. ### [Frank Doughton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/frank_doughton) _friendship_ Frank Doughton and T. B. Smith are allies, with Smith helping Doughton protect Doris Gray. ### [Mr. Ela](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_ela) _professional_ Mr. Ela is a subordinate or informant working with T. B. Smith in his investigation. ### [Mr. Moole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_moole) _professional_ Mr. Moole assists T. B. Smith as a colleague or agent in the case. ### [Montague Fallock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/montague_fallock) _professional_ Montague Fallock is a professional contact or witness aiding T. B. Smith's investigation. ### [Mr. Gregory Farrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_gregory_farrington) _professional_ Mr. Farrington and T. B. Smith have a tense professional relationship, likely as employer and investigator or adversary. ### [Mr. Gregory Farrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_gregory_farrington) _professional_ Mr. Farrington and T. B. Smith have a tense professional relationship, likely as employer and investigator or adversary. ### [Mr. Moole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/mr_moole) _professional_ Mr. Moole assists T. B. Smith as a colleague or agent in the case. ### [Dr. Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/dr_fall) _rivalry_ Dr. Fall and T. B. Smith are adversaries, with Smith pursuing Fall for his role in criminal experiments. ### [Count Poltavo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/count_poltavo) _rivalry_ Count Poltavo and T. B. Smith are direct antagonists, with Smith hunting Poltavo's criminal activities. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/ii) Investigates the double murder outside Farrington's house, deduces a third shooter, and finds a scent bottle belonging to Lady Constance Dex. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/iii) Works late at Scotland Yard, compares fingerprints, deduces Montague Fallock's identity, and discovers his office burgled. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as being watched by Poltavo, who claims Smith has surrounded the Jollity with detectives. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/vi) Observes from the stalls, rushes to the royal box after the shot, and announces the warrant for Farrington's arrest. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/vii) Investigates Farrington's case; reveals a headless body was found; intercepts Dr. Goldworthy to prevent kidnapping. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/viii) Interviews Lady Constance Dex in his study, deduces her presence at the murder scene, and orders her surveillance. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/ix) Investigates the Secret House and interviews Lady Constance Dex. ### [The Reading of the Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/x) Attends the will reading; observes the reactions of Poltavo and others; later escorts Poltavo to Scotland Yard for a private conversation. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xi) Arrives at the Secret House and rescues Poltavo from the lift, discovering the message Poltavo had written. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xii) Leads the raid on the Secret House, disables alarms, and confronts Dr. Fall after a mysterious encounter with a masked man. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xiii) Reveals Farrington's identity as Montague Fallock and explains the murders in Brakely Square to his chief. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xv) Investigates Lady Constance's disappearance at Moor Cottage, discovers Frank Doughton, and re-examines the locket from the Brakely Square murders. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xvii) Plays golf at Walton Heath, receives news, and explains his deductions about Farrington's scheme to Ela. Later foils an assassination attempt and arranges the deportation of the attacker. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xviii) Disguises himself as an old messenger to capture Poltavo; orchestrates the arrest and negotiates for information about the Secret House. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xix) Captures Poltavo on the downs, inspects the Secret House with detectives, and searches the underground room where Poltavo was hidden. ### [The Last Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xx) Captured and strapped to an electric chair; refuses Farrington's ultimatum; loses consciousness after a shock. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/chapters/xxi) Found strapped in a chair in the underground room, rescued by Ela. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters/t_b_smith - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_house_se/characters