# Slopperton — The Trail of the Serpent character guide > Slopperton in The Trail of the Serpent by M. E. Braddon. **Role:** minor **Also known as:** Dr. Tappenden, Montague Harding, the Slopperton, living Slopperton **First appearance:** 0001-i-the-good-schoolmaster ## Who they are A school and location central to the initial crime. ## Relationships ### [Jabez North](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/jabez_north) _rivalry_ Jabez North and Slopperton are adversaries, with Slopperton often opposing North's schemes. ### [Richard Marwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/richard_marwood) _friendship_ Richard Marwood and Slopperton are allies, working together against common enemies. ### [Richard Marwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/richard_marwood) _friendship_ Richard Marwood and Slopperton are allies, working together against common enemies. ### [Jabez North](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/jabez_north) _rivalry_ Jabez North and Slopperton are adversaries, with Slopperton often opposing North's schemes. ## In the story ### [The Good Schoolmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-good-schoolmaster) Mentioned as the head of the academy where Jabez North works. ### [The Good Schoolmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-good-schoolmaster) The town that found and raised Jabez North, and where the chapter is set. ### [Good for Nothing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-good-for-nothing) Mrs. Marwood's wealthy brother, recently returned from the East Indies, offers Richard a job and inheritance. ### [The Usher Washes His Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-usher-washes-his-hands) Dr. Tappenden, the master of the school where Jabez works, is informed of the boy's death the next morning. ### [The Usher Washes His Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-usher-washes-his-hands) The schoolmaster who trusts Jabez and asks him to break the news of the boy's death to Allecompain Major. ### [IV: Richard Marwood Lights His Pipe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-richard-marwood-lights-his-pipe) Richard's uncle, found murdered in his bed with his throat cut; his pocketbook containing over three hundred pounds is missing. ### [V: The Healing Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-healing-waters) The town and its environs are described, including the gaol and the public-house by the Sloshy. ### [VI: Two Coroner’s Inquests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-two-coroner-s-inquests) The murdered Anglo-Indian; his body is examined at the inquest, throat cut and stabbed, cabinet ransacked. ### [Seven Letters on the Dirty Alphabet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-seven-letters-on-the-dirty-alphabet) The murder victim, Richard's wealthy uncle who had recently returned from India. His murder is the subject of the trial. ### [IX: “Mad, Gentlemen of the Jury”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ix-mad-gentlemen-of-the-jury) Murder victim; his body was found by Martha. ### [Book II: A Clearance of All Scores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-ii-a-clearance-of-all-scores) The victim whose murder sets the plot in motion. ### [I: Blind Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-blind-peter) His murder is referenced as a past event; his will left his fortune to his sister Mrs. Marwood. ### [I: Blind Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-blind-peter) His school breaks up for the midsummer holidays; he hosts a ball on the evening of June 17th. ### [The Usher Resigns His Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-usher-resigns-his-situation) Returns home to Slopperton and discovers the disappearance of Jabez North and the theft of his chequebook. ### [Book III: Holy Institution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-iii-holy-institution) The physician overseeing the asylum, representing the medical authority that has declared Richard insane. ### [I: The Boy from Slopperton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-boy-from-slopperton) The town near the asylum; the keeper plans to advertise in a Slopperton paper for a new boy attendant. ### [One Step Further on the Right Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-one-step-further-on-the-right-track) Dr. Tappenden arrives to identify the impostor and reveals he can prove a circumstance linking the man to Montague Harding's murder. ### [I: Father and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-father-and-son) The doctor from Slopperton who accompanies the police to identify and arrest Raymond as Jabez North. ### [VI: The End of the Dark Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-the-end-of-the-dark-road) The victim of the murder that is the subject of the revived trial. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/slopperton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters