# Superintendent Battle — The Secret of Chimneys character guide > Superintendent Battle in The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Battle, Mr. Battle **First appearance:** 0012-xi-superintendent-battle-arrives ## Snapshot A stolid Scotland Yard man with a deceptively slow manner, he investigates the murder at Chimneys while quietly knowing far more than he lets on. ## Who they are Superintendent Battle arrives at Chimneys to find a locked room, a dead man, and a household full of secrets that powerful men would prefer stayed buried. He is patient, methodical, and unbothered by the pressure from Whitehall to hush things up — he has seen this kind of thing before and knows it always comes out eventually. His willingness to share the truth with the people involved, against his superiors' wishes, sets the story's central revelations in motion. ## Relationships ### [Anthony Cade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/anthony_cade) _professional_ Anthony and Superintendent Battle work as uneasy but respectful allies in the investigation, with Battle suspicious yet cooperative. ### [George Lomax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/george_lomax) _professional_ George Lomax and Superintendent Battle have a strained professional relationship, with Lomax condescending and Battle quietly competent. ### [Virginia Revel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/virginia_revel) _professional_ Superintendent Battle and Virginia Revel interact as detective and potential suspect, with Battle polite but probing. ### [Anthony Cade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/anthony_cade) _professional_ Anthony and Superintendent Battle work as uneasy but respectful allies in the investigation, with Battle suspicious yet cooperative. ### [Anthony Cade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/anthony_cade) _professional_ Anthony and Superintendent Battle work as uneasy but respectful allies in the investigation, with Battle suspicious yet cooperative. ### [George Lomax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/george_lomax) _professional_ George Lomax and Superintendent Battle have a strained professional relationship, with Lomax condescending and Battle quietly competent. ### [George Lomax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/george_lomax) _professional_ George Lomax and Superintendent Battle have a strained professional relationship, with Lomax condescending and Battle quietly competent. ### [Virginia Revel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/virginia_revel) _professional_ Superintendent Battle and Virginia Revel interact as detective and potential suspect, with Battle polite but probing. ### [Virginia Revel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/virginia_revel) _professional_ Superintendent Battle and Virginia Revel interact as detective and potential suspect, with Battle polite but probing. ## In the story ### [The Secret of Chimneys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/the-secret-of-chimneys) Investigates the murder at Chimneys. ### [XI: Superintendent Battle Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xi-superintendent-battle-arrives) Arrives to lead the investigation; questions Lord Caterham and George Lomax; notes the suspicious behavior of Anthony Cade. ### [XII: Anthony Tells His Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xii-anthony-tells-his-story) Interrogates Anthony, reveals the open window and the 'Comrades of the Red Hand' note, and shows Anthony the body. ### [XIII: The American Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xiii-the-american-visitor) Shows Anthony the recovered manuscript; suggests Anthony was mistaken about the window being locked; keeps the crime scene locked and removes the key. ### [Mainly Political and Financial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xiv-mainly-political-and-financial) Remains impassive; discusses the case with Lomax and Isaacstein, considers King Victor as a suspect, and interviews Boris Anchoukoff. ### [Tea in the Schoolroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xvi-tea-in-the-schoolroom) Agrees to Anthony's trip to Dinard and discusses the political stakes of the murder. ### [Second Midnight Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xviii-second-midnight-adventure) Meets Anthony at the station, mentions King Victor and the Staines shooting, then secretly returns to Chimneys to observe the night's events. ### [Secret History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xix-secret-history) Leads the discussion and recounts the hushed-up affair of the missing jewel. ### [Battle and Anthony Confer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xx-battle-and-anthony-confer) Receives Anthony's confession calmly; discusses the investigation and his theories about the murder and the letters. ### [Mr. Isaacstein’s Suitcase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxi-mr-isaacstein-s-suitcase) Interrogates Virginia about Anthony's history, noting his adventurous past and lack of known background before South Africa. ### [The Red Signal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxii-the-red-signal) Leads the investigation, reports to George Lomax, and decodes the cipher with Professor Wynward's help. ### [Encounter in the Rose Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxiii-encounter-in-the-rose-garden) Leads the search, discovers the hidden cavity, and later shows Anthony an anonymous letter warning about him. ### [The House at Dover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxiv-the-house-at-dover) Mentioned by Bundle as a capable Scotland Yard man. ### [XXV: Tuesday Night at Chimneys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxv-tuesday-night-at-chimneys) Briefly appears in the hall; confirms to Virginia that Hiram Fish is an American detective. ### [The 13th of October (Continued.)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxvii-the-13th-of-october-continued) Observes the proceedings, whispers to George Lomax to allow Anthony to speak, and moves to cut off retreat during the confrontation. ### [XXIX: Further Explanations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxix-further-explanations) Remained expressionless during Anthony's revelation; had suspected Anthony but lacked motive. ### [XXX: Anthony Signs on for a New Job](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxx-anthony-signs-on-for-a-new-job) Interviews Anthony about the dead woman (Queen Varaga) and his identity; approves of Anthony as future king. ### [Sundry Details](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxxi-sundry-details) Oversees the proceedings with an immovable face, pleased with the arrangements. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters/superintendent_battle - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/characters