# Charles Eldrick — The Talleyrand Maxim character guide > Charles Eldrick in The Talleyrand Maxim by J. S. Fletcher. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Eldrick, Mr. Eldrick, Lawyer Eldrick **First appearance:** 0000-i-death-brings-opportunity ## Snapshot The senior partner at Eldrick & Pascoe, genial and shrewd, who never quite sees what his own clerk is doing under his nose. ## Who they are Eldrick handles the Mallathorpe estate business and takes a practical, paternal interest in Collingwood's career, even handing him cases. He calls Pratt a clever chap and half-defends him, unaware how much the clerk has overheard and pocketed. His easy confidence in his own office makes him both a useful ally to Collingwood and an unwitting shield for Pratt. ## Relationships ### [Linford Pratt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/linford_pratt) _professional_ Charles Eldrick is Linford Pratt's employer and later antagonist, as Pratt betrays his trust. ### [Bartle Collingwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/bartle_collingwood) _friendship_ Bartle Collingwood and Charles Eldrick are allies and friends, working together to expose Pratt's crimes. ### [Halstead Byner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/halstead_byner) _professional_ Charles Eldrick and Halstead Byner are legal colleagues, with Byner assisting Eldrick in his investigations. ### [Nesta Mallathorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/nesta_mallathorpe) _professional_ Charles Eldrick acts as Nesta Mallathorpe's legal advisor and protector, with a paternal concern. ### [James Parrawhite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/james_parrawhite) _professional_ Charles Eldrick and James Parrawhite are rival solicitors, with Eldrick suspicious of Parrawhite's dealings. ### [George Pickard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/george_pickard) _professional_ Charles Eldrick and George Pickard have a professional relationship, with Pickard being a witness or client. ### [Linford Pratt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/linford_pratt) _professional_ Charles Eldrick is Linford Pratt's employer and later antagonist, as Pratt betrays his trust. ### [James Parrawhite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/james_parrawhite) _professional_ Charles Eldrick and James Parrawhite are rival solicitors, with Eldrick suspicious of Parrawhite's dealings. ### [Halstead Byner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/halstead_byner) _professional_ Charles Eldrick and Halstead Byner are legal colleagues, with Byner assisting Eldrick in his investigations. ### [Nesta Mallathorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/nesta_mallathorpe) _professional_ Charles Eldrick acts as Nesta Mallathorpe's legal advisor and protector, with a paternal concern. ### [Bartle Collingwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/bartle_collingwood) _friendship_ Bartle Collingwood and Charles Eldrick are allies and friends, working together to expose Pratt's crimes. ### [Halstead Byner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/halstead_byner) _professional_ Charles Eldrick and Halstead Byner are legal colleagues, with Byner assisting Eldrick in his investigations. ## In the story ### [II: In Trust](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/ii-in-trust) Senior partner at Eldrick & Pascoe; informed by Pratt of Bartle's death. ### [III: The Shop-Boy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/iii-the-shop-boy) Eldrick is present at the office to introduce Collingwood and confirms Pratt's account of the death; he had given orders for the coffin. ### [VI: The Unexpected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/vi-the-unexpected) Eldrick is mentioned as Parrawhite's protector and the employer who keeps loose cash in his desk. ### [VII: The Supreme Inducement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/vii-the-supreme-inducement) Discovers the missing money and cheques, blames Parrawhite, and asks Pratt to investigate quietly, showing his careless and trusting nature. ### [Until Next Spring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/ix-until-next-spring) Advises Collingwood to practice law in Barford and suggests he consider marrying Nesta Mallathorpe for her wealth. ### [X: The Footbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/x-the-footbridge) Informs Collingwood of the accident and Pratt's role; notes that Harper Mallathorpe died intestate. ### [XII: The Power of Attorney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xii-the-power-of-attorney) Welcomes Collingwood's decision to stay in Barford, offers him professional work, and speaks approvingly of Pratt's usefulness while noting his self-assurance. ### [XIII: The First Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xiii-the-first-trick) Eldrick visits Pratt to inquire about the power of attorney, examines the evidence of kinship, and is somewhat swayed by Pratt's explanations. ### [XVI: A Headquarters Conference](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xvi-a-headquarters-conference) Leads the conference, advises Nesta to keep Pratt's confidence, and devises a counter-strategy to investigate Pratt's secret. ### [XVII: Advertisement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xvii-advertisement) Discusses Pratt's possible theft of a document, decides to search parish registers, drafts an advertisement for Parrawhite, and meets with inquiry agent Byner. ### [XVIII: The Confiding Landlord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xviii-the-confiding-landlord) Solicitor who interviews Pickard and later consults with Collingwood; offers a ten-pound reward for useful information. ### [Smooth Face and Anxious Brain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xxiii-smooth-face-and-anxious-brain) Eldrick acts as Byner's intermediary, visiting Murgatroyd and Pratt to gather information and deliver news. ### [XXIV: The Better Half](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xxiv-the-better-half) Eldrick visits Murgatroyd earlier in the day to ask questions about Parrawhite, but his inquiries are described as 'few, elementary, and easily answered.' ### [XXVI: The Telephone Message](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xxvi-the-telephone-message) Informed of the body's discovery; accompanies Collingwood and Nesta to Normandale Grange after the telephone message. ### [The Woman in Black](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xxviii-the-woman-in-black) Reveals the existence of the duplicate will and its terms; advises Mrs. Mallathorpe and Nesta. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters/charles_eldrick - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/characters