# Sir Walter Bullivant — The Thirty-Nine Steps character guide

> Sir Walter Bullivant in The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Walter, Bullivant

**First appearance:** 0009-viii-the-coming-of-the-black-stone

## Who they are

The Foreign Office man Hannay pins his hopes on, a cool intelligence chief who must decide whether a fugitive's story is worth believing.

## Relationships

### [General Royer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/general_royer)

_professional_

They work together in intelligence and national security, sharing critical information.

### [Richard Hannay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/richard_hannay)

_professional_

Bullivant is a senior intelligence officer who trusts and relies on Hannay for critical missions.

### [Lord Alloa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/lord_alloa)

_professional_

They are colleagues in government or military intelligence, coordinating responses to threats.

### [Mr. Scudder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/mr_scudder)

_professional_

Scudder is a secret agent reporting to or working alongside Bullivant on the same case.

### [MacGillivray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/macgillivray)

_professional_

MacGillivray is a police or intelligence official cooperating with Bullivant on the investigation.

### [Whittaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/whittaker)

_professional_

Whittaker is an aide or junior officer assisting Bullivant with administrative or operational tasks.

### [Karolides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/karolides)

_professional_

Bullivant is involved in protecting Karolides from assassination, indicating a diplomatic or security relationship.

### [Paddock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/paddock)

_professional_

Paddock acts as a messenger or informant for Bullivant, relaying Scudder's findings.

### [General Royer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/general_royer)

_professional_

They work together in intelligence and national security, sharing critical information.

### [Richard Hannay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/richard_hannay)

_professional_

Bullivant is a senior intelligence officer who trusts and relies on Hannay for critical missions.

### [Lord Alloa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/lord_alloa)

_professional_

They are colleagues in government or military intelligence, coordinating responses to threats.

### [Mr. Scudder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/mr_scudder)

_professional_

Scudder is a secret agent reporting to or working alongside Bullivant on the same case.

## In the story

### [The Thirty-Nine Steps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/the-thirty-nine-steps)

The British official who hosts Hannay and coordinates the response to the Black Stone threat.

### [IV: The Adventure of the Radical Candidate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/iv-the-adventure-of-the-radical-candidate)

Mentioned as Sir Harry's godfather and Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office; Hannay is given a letter of introduction to him.

### [The Dry-Fly Fisherman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/vii-the-dry-fly-fisherman)

Foreign Office official; initially skeptical of Scudder's story but is convinced after learning of Karolides' assassination.

### [The Coming of the Black Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/viii-the-coming-of-the-black-stone)

Sir Walter briefs Hannay on the Royer plan and later hosts the secret meeting at his home.

### [The Thirty-Nine Steps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/ix-the-thirty-nine-steps)

Coordinates with Scotland Yard and participates in the search for the spies.

### [X: Various Parties Converging on the Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/chapters/x-various-parties-converging-on-the-sea)

Sir Walter is the recipient of Hannay's wire about the destroyer.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters/sir_walter_bullivant
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_thirty_nine_steps_se/characters