# Inspector Orpington — The Story of Ivy character guide

> Inspector Orpington in The Story of Ivy by Marie Belloc Lowndes.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Orpington

**First appearance:** 0010-x

## Snapshot

A police inspector who realises, with professional mortification, that the lovely, childlike widow has thoroughly bamboozled him.

## Who they are

Inspector Orpington has built his case on impressions of Ivy Lexton as a simple, grieving wife, and the discovery of her passionate letters to Roger Gretorex overturns everything he thought he knew. He is incensed at being taken in, yet still finds it almost impossible to believe she poisoned her husband. His reluctant reassessment of the evidence is what turns a domestic tragedy into a case with a woman at its centre.

## Relationships

### [Ivy Lexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/ivy_lexton)

_rivalry_

Inspector Orpington investigates Ivy with suspicion, viewing her as a potential criminal or key witness in a case.

### [Roger Gretorex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/roger_gretorex)

_rivalry_

Inspector Orpington suspects Roger of wrongdoing, leading to tense interrogations and mutual distrust.

### [Ivy Lexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/ivy_lexton)

_rivalry_

Inspector Orpington investigates Ivy with suspicion, viewing her as a potential criminal or key witness in a case.

### [Ivy Lexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/ivy_lexton)

_rivalry_

Inspector Orpington investigates Ivy with suspicion, viewing her as a potential criminal or key witness in a case.

### [Roger Gretorex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/roger_gretorex)

_rivalry_

Inspector Orpington suspects Roger of wrongdoing, leading to tense interrogations and mutual distrust.

### [Roger Gretorex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/roger_gretorex)

_rivalry_

Inspector Orpington suspects Roger of wrongdoing, leading to tense interrogations and mutual distrust.

## In the story

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/ix)

Orpington telephones Gretorex, requesting a meeting to discuss business related to Jervis's death.

### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/x)

Investigates Jervis Lexton's death; interviews Gretorex and suspects him of murder.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/chapters/xii)

Conducts a probing interview with Ivy, reconstructing the last day of Jervis's life. He is partially swayed by her charm but remains suspicious.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters/inspector_orpington
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_ivy_se/characters