# Gordon Davenant — The Viaduct Murder character guide > Gordon Davenant in The Viaduct Murder by Ronald A. Knox. **Role:** major **Also known as:** young Davenant, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Davenant, Mr. Davenant Gordon, the mysterious Mr. Davenant, the literal-minded Gordon **First appearance:** 0002-the-viaduct-murder ## Who they are A literal-minded clubman whose habit of hiding in secret passages and dodging the police makes him the investigation's most suspicious innocent man. ## Relationships ### [Mordaunt Reeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mordaunt_reeves) _friendship_ Gordon and Mordaunt are close friends and frequent companions, often working together to solve the mystery. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _friendship_ Gordon and Marryatt share a strong camaraderie, with Marryatt often assisting Gordon in his investigations. ### [Old Brotherhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/old_brotherhood) _social_ Gordon has a respectful but distant acquaintance with Old Brotherhood, a fellow member of their social circle. ### [Mr. Carmichael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mr_carmichael) _professional_ Gordon interacts with Mr. Carmichael as a fellow investigator, sharing information and theories about the crime. ### [Sullivan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/sullivan) _professional_ Gordon interacts with Sullivan as a subordinate or assistant, giving instructions and receiving reports. ### [Miss Rendall-Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/miss_rendall_smith) _romantic_ Gordon shares a flirtatious and tender romantic interest in Miss Rendall-Smith, with clear mutual attraction. ### [Colonel Steele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/colonel_steele) _rivalry_ Colonel Steele and Gordon have a tense, competitive dynamic, with Steele frequently challenging Gordon's conclusions. ### [Mr. Masterman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mr_masterman) _professional_ Gordon and Mr. Masterman have a respectful professional interaction, sharing insights during the investigation. ### [Mordaunt Reeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mordaunt_reeves) _friendship_ Gordon and Mordaunt are close friends and frequent companions, often working together to solve the mystery. ### [Marryatt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/marryatt) _friendship_ Gordon and Marryatt share a strong camaraderie, with Marryatt often assisting Gordon in his investigations. ### [Mordaunt Reeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/mordaunt_reeves) _friendship_ Gordon and Mordaunt are close friends and frequent companions, often working together to solve the mystery. ### [Old Brotherhood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/old_brotherhood) _social_ Gordon has a respectful but distant acquaintance with Old Brotherhood, a fellow member of their social circle. ## In the story ### [The Viaduct Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/the-viaduct-murder) Present during the discovery and discussion of the body. ### [I: The Paston Oatvile Dormy-House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/i-the-paston-oatvile-dormy-house) Referred to as 'young Davenant' who stays at the Hatcheries on weekends; his Catholicism is noted but little else is known. ### [II: In the Rough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/ii-in-the-rough) Assists Reeves in examining the body, noting the stopped watch and other details. ### [III: Piecing It Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/iii-piecing-it-together) Assists Reeves in examining the documents; offers suggestions and is assigned to follow the Masterman clue. ### [V: On the Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/v-on-the-railway) Accompanies Reeves to the embankment, helps with the investigation, and questions Reeves about his motives. ### [VI: The Movements of Mr. Davenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/vi-the-movements-of-mr-davenant) Gordon investigates Davenant's cottage, finding evidence of a premeditated departure. ### [VII: Carmichael’s Account of It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/vii-carmichael-s-account-of-it) Questions Carmichael and reflects on his own role as a golf partner. ### [VIII: The Inquest, and a Fresh Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/viii-the-inquest-and-a-fresh-clue) Present at the inquest and in the discussion afterward. He urges Carmichael to produce the photograph and expresses unease about digging up the past. ### [X: In Which a Book Is More Communicative Than a Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/x-in-which-a-book-is-more-communicative-than-a-lady) Drives Reeves to Miss Rendall-Smith's but refuses to enter; later laughs at Reeves' account and participates in decoding. ### [XIII: The Man in the Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xiii-the-man-in-the-passage) Takes charge of the investigation, enters the secret passage with a revolver and torch, but is forced back by an unseen man. ### [XIV: A Chase, Ending with a Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xiv-a-chase-ending-with-a-surprise) Revealed as the captured fugitive at the end of the chase. ### [Gordon Takes the Opportunity to Philosophize](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xv-gordon-takes-the-opportunity-to-philosophize) Gordon is present and philosophizing about the case, critiquing Carmichael's theory and reading from his diary. ### [XVI: Reeves Promises to Do His Best](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xvi-reeves-promises-to-do-his-best) Arrested for the murder; Miss Rendall-Smith believes he is innocent and explains his past involvement with her and Brotherhood. ### [By Which Train?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xvii-by-which-train) Referenced as the accused; his innocence is the central point of contention. ### [XVIII: The Holmes Method](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xviii-the-holmes-method) Debates the murder theory with Reeves, pointing out inconsistencies in the timeline and Davenant's knowledge. ### [XIX: Mordaunt Reeves Talks to Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xix-mordaunt-reeves-talks-to-himself) Mentioned as the arrested suspect whom Reeves believes to be innocent; referenced in Reeves' internal monologue and in conversation with Miss Rendall-Smith. ### [Proof at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xx-proof-at-last) Reeves confides his solution to Gordon, who is skeptical but listens. ### [XXI: The Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxi-the-test) Helps Reeves set the trap, hides in the passage, and overhears Marryatt's cries of distress. ### [XXII: In the Fog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxii-in-the-fog) Davenant is the innocent man wrongly awaiting trial for the murder; Reeves mentions he has confessed but is not the real killer. ### [Marryatt Breaks the Pledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxiii-marryatt-breaks-the-pledge) Davenant is mentioned as having confessed to the police that he murdered Brotherhood; his confession is the key event driving the chapter. ### [Gordon Offers the Consolation of Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxiv-gordon-offers-the-consolation-of-philosophy) Explains the truth about the metaphone and argues that Marryatt is not a murderer, contrasting his character with that of a killer. ### [The Dull Facts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/xxv-the-dull-facts) Hanged for the murder; followed Brotherhood on the day of the crime, attempted to protect Miss Rendall-Smith, and died in silence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters/gordon_davenant - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/characters