# Richard Topham — The Secret of the Old Clock character guide > Richard Topham in The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mrs. Topham, Richard, Topham, this Mrs. Topham, Mrs. Richard Topham, Mr. Topham **First appearance:** 0010-xi-visiting-the-tophams ## Snapshot Matriarch of the Tophams, smug in her claim to Josiah Crowley's fortune and careless enough to reveal where the family clock went. ## Who they are Mrs. Richard Topham rules the household that took Josiah Crowley in and now enjoys the estate his missing will would overturn. She cannot resist belittling the old Crowley clock to Nancy, boasting that it was too out of place for her modern home and was sent to the bungalow at Moon Lake. That vanity is precisely what Nancy came for, and it makes the Tophams the story's chief obstacles: wealthy, hostile, and confident that no one will ever trace the fortune back to a discarded heirloom. ## Relationships ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/nancy_drew) _rivalry_ Richard is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation into the Crowley inheritance. ### [Josiah Crowley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/josiah_crowley) _family_ Richard Topham is a relative of Josiah Crowley, but their relationship is strained due to Richard's greed over the inheritance. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew) _professional_ Carson, as a lawyer, interacts with Richard Topham regarding legal matters of the Crowley estate. ### [Grace Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/grace_horner) _social_ Grace knows Richard as a local resident but is wary of his dishonest character. ### [Ada Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/ada_topham) _family_ Ada is Richard's wife, and they share a greedy, scheming partnership to secure the Crowley fortune. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/nancy_drew) _rivalry_ Richard is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation into the Crowley inheritance. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew) _professional_ Carson, as a lawyer, interacts with Richard Topham regarding legal matters of the Crowley estate. ### [Grace Horner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/grace_horner) _social_ Grace knows Richard as a local resident but is wary of his dishonest character. ### [Ada Topham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/ada_topham) _family_ Ada is Richard's wife, and they share a greedy, scheming partnership to secure the Crowley fortune. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/nancy_drew) _rivalry_ Richard is a suspicious and antagonistic figure who opposes Nancy's investigation into the Crowley inheritance. ### [Josiah Crowley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/josiah_crowley) _family_ Richard Topham is a relative of Josiah Crowley, but their relationship is strained due to Richard's greed over the inheritance. ### [Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/carson_drew) _professional_ Carson, as a lawyer, interacts with Richard Topham regarding legal matters of the Crowley estate. ## In the story ### [The Lost Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/i-the-lost-will) Richard Topham is described as shrewd and dishonest, likely to destroy any second will that might surface. ### [VII: Nancy Turns Sleuth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/vii-nancy-turns-sleuth) Referenced as a potentially dangerous adversary who would fight to keep the fortune. ### [Visiting the Tophams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xi-visiting-the-tophams) Buys all four charity tickets from Nancy, hoping to gain social recognition. ### [Notifying the Police](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xviii-notifying-the-police) Referenced as the owner of the bungalow that was robbed. ### [Capturing the Robbers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxi-capturing-the-robbers) Mrs. Topham's household goods are among the stolen items; Nancy asks the marshal not to mention her name to Mrs. Topham. ### [XXII: What the Notebook Revealed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxii-what-the-notebook-revealed) Rumored to be losing heavily in the stock market and depending on the inheritance. ### [The Coup de Grâce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxiv-the-coup-de-gr-ce) Looks pale and disbelieving upon learning he is cut off; admits he needs the money. ### [A Reward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/chapters/xxv-a-reward) Mentioned as having lost money in the stock market and forced to give up the family home. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters/richard_topham - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_the_old_clock_se/characters