# Mr. Burton — The Three Impostors character guide

> Mr. Burton in The Three Impostors by Arthur Machen.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Burton

**First appearance:** 0000-prologue

## Snapshot

A dealer in curiosities and precious things who has swindled rajahs and now suspects the nervous man in spectacles is avoiding him.

## Who they are

Burton trades in rare gems and odd objects, a self-made connoisseur whose diplomacy was honed frightening an Eastern ruler out of a prized opal. Hearing Dyson describe a pale young man with black side-whiskers and large spectacles, he recognizes the very person he has been quietly hunting. His worldly, slightly unscrupulous competence gives the mystery a commercial edge — this is not merely a ghost story but a chase after something valuable, and Burton intends to be the one who finds it.

## Relationships

### [William Robbins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/william_robbins)

_professional_

Mr. Burton employs or works with William Robbins, possibly as a servant or assistant.

### [Signor Melini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/signor_melini)

_social_

Mr. Burton and Signor Melini are social acquaintances, possibly meeting through shared circles or business.

### [Signora Melini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/signora_melini)

_social_

Mr. Burton and Signora Melini are social acquaintances, likely through her husband Signor Melini.

### [William Robbins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/william_robbins)

_professional_

Mr. Burton employs or works with William Robbins, possibly as a servant or assistant.

### [Signor Melini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/signor_melini)

_social_

Mr. Burton and Signor Melini are social acquaintances, possibly meeting through shared circles or business.

### [Signora Melini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/signora_melini)

_social_

Mr. Burton and Signora Melini are social acquaintances, likely through her husband Signor Melini.

## In the story

### [Incident of the Private Bar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/incident-of-the-private-bar)

Introduces himself to Dyson in the bar, shares his story as a dealer in curiosities and his ethical justifications for deception.

### [The Decorative Imagination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/the-decorative-imagination)

Mr. Burton visits Dyson frequently, discussing social decay and promising to share a strange story from his career as an agent.

### [Strange Occurrence in Clerkenwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/chapters/strange-occurrence-in-clerkenwell)

Appears briefly in the pub, muttering to the terrified man and vanishing; Dyson recognizes him as a smooth liar.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters/mr_burton
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_three_impostors_se/characters