# Mr. William Robinson — The Third Round character guide

> Mr. William Robinson in The Third Round by H. C. McNeile.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mr. Robinson

**First appearance:** 0000-i-in-which-the-metropolitan-diamond-syndicate-holds-converse-with-mr-edward-blackton

## Snapshot

A benevolent-looking gentleman with a taste for chemistry, whose mild whiskers and gentle voice conceal a tormentor who would trade a fortune for one man's ruin.

## Who they are

Robinson hosts the unconscious Drummond in his New Forest house with the courtesy of a man who has already decided how the interview will end, and he speaks of revenge on Drummond as a weakness he would choose over Professor Goodman's secret itself. To his subordinate Freyder he is 'Chief,' and the cold ferocity that makes even that hardened man shudder is the same quality he turns on his own captive brother. His patient cruelty sets the moral temperature of the book's middle chapters.

## Relationships

### [Professor Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters/professor_goodman)

_professional_

Mr. William Robinson works closely with Professor Goodman, likely as a subordinate or partner in the criminal enterprise.

### [Hugh Drummond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters/hugh_drummond)

_rivalry_

Hugh Drummond and Mr. William Robinson are on opposite sides, with Drummond trying to thwart Robinson's criminal activities.

### [Professor Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters/professor_goodman)

_professional_

Mr. William Robinson works closely with Professor Goodman, likely as a subordinate or partner in the criminal enterprise.

### [Hugh Drummond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters/hugh_drummond)

_rivalry_

Hugh Drummond and Mr. William Robinson are on opposite sides, with Drummond trying to thwart Robinson's criminal activities.

### [Professor Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters/professor_goodman)

_professional_

Mr. William Robinson works closely with Professor Goodman, likely as a subordinate or partner in the criminal enterprise.

## In the story

### [In Which Mr. William Robinson Loses His Self-Control](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/chapters/v-in-which-mr-william-robinson-loses-his-self-control)

Loses self-control upon learning Drummond has the notes; uses cocaine to regain composure; dictates letter to Drummond.

### [In Which Hugh Drummond Loses His Self-Control](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/chapters/vi-in-which-hugh-drummond-loses-his-self-control)

Masterminds the scheme, using Scheidstrun as a pawn and paying him for his role.

### [In Which Drummond Plays a Little Game of Trains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/chapters/viii-in-which-drummond-plays-a-little-game-of-trains)

Reveals his deep personal hatred for Drummond, insisting on keeping him alive for revenge. He plans to dispose of him by dropping him overboard with weights.

### [IX: In Which Professor Goodman Has a Trying Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/chapters/ix-in-which-professor-goodman-has-a-trying-time)

Reveals his true identity and his twenty-year revenge plot against Peterson, having disguised himself as Scheidstrun to save Goodman and secure the secret.

### [X: In Which Drummond Goes on Board the S.Y. Gadfly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/chapters/x-in-which-drummond-goes-on-board-the-s-y-gadfly)

Revealed to be Peterson, he plans to take Drummond and Goodman aboard his yacht, the S.Y. Gadfly, and is determined to exact revenge on Drummond.

### [In Which Drummond Leaves the S.Y. Gadfly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/chapters/xi-in-which-drummond-leaves-the-s-y-gadfly)

Believes Drummond and Goodman are drowned; expresses false condolences.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters/mr_william_robinson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_third_round_se/characters