# Nathaniel Burton Cupples — Trent’s Last Case character guide

> Nathaniel Burton Cupples in Trent’s Last Case by E. C. Bentley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Nathaniel Burton Cupples, Mr. Cupples, Cupples, Dear Cupples

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-knocking-the-town-endways

## Snapshot

An elderly scholar and Mabel's uncle, birdlike in his curiosity, who brings Trent into the case and lectures him on everything from coroners to Puritanism.

## Who they are

Cupples is the quiet hinge of the affair: it is through his friendship with Trent and his loyalty to his niece that the detective is drawn into the Manderson household at all. He is a man of disquisitions and moral reflections, alert as a bird at breakfast, delighted by the prospect of an inquest, and utterly without guile. His trust in Trent and his anxious care for Mabel give the investigation its human stakes, and his talkative, well-read presence is the calm counterweight to Trent's restless suspicion.

## Relationships

### [Philip Trent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/philip_trent)

_friendship_

Cupples is Trent's old friend and mentor, who brings him into the Manderson case.

### [Mabel Manderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/mabel_manderson)

_family_

Mabel is Cupples's niece, and he acts as her guardian and confidant.

### [Sigsbee Manderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/sigsbee_manderson)

_family_

Cupples is Manderson's uncle by marriage, though their relationship is strained.

### [John Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/john_marlowe)

_social_

Marlowe and Cupples are acquaintances through the Manderson household, with Cupples suspecting Marlowe's involvement.

### [Philip Trent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/philip_trent)

_friendship_

Cupples is Trent's old friend and mentor, who brings him into the Manderson case.

### [Philip Trent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/philip_trent)

_friendship_

Cupples is Trent's old friend and mentor, who brings him into the Manderson case.

### [Mabel Manderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/mabel_manderson)

_family_

Mabel is Cupples's niece, and he acts as her guardian and confidant.

### [Sigsbee Manderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/sigsbee_manderson)

_family_

Cupples is Manderson's uncle by marriage, though their relationship is strained.

### [John Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/john_marlowe)

_social_

Marlowe and Cupples are acquaintances through the Manderson household, with Cupples suspecting Marlowe's involvement.

### [Sigsbee Manderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/sigsbee_manderson)

_family_

Cupples is Manderson's uncle by marriage, though their relationship is strained.

### [John Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/john_marlowe)

_social_

Marlowe and Cupples are acquaintances through the Manderson household, with Cupples suspecting Marlowe's involvement.

## In the story

### [III: Breakfast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/iii-breakfast)

Provides background on the Mandersons' marital strife, recounts his confrontation with Manderson, and expresses concern for Mabel's involvement in the case.

### [IV: Handcuffs in the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/iv-handcuffs-in-the-air)

Mentioned as Trent's source of information about Mrs. Manderson and the case.

### [VII: The Lady in Black](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/vii-the-lady-in-black)

Breakfasts with Trent, discusses the inquest and Bunner's vendetta theory, and later speaks with his niece about inquest arrangements.

### [IX: A Hot Scent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/ix-a-hot-scent)

Cupples visits Trent to thank him for assisting Mrs. Manderson at the inquest. He observes Trent's work with curiosity but is left bewildered by Trent's cryptic reaction.

### [XI: Hitherto Unpublished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/xi-hitherto-unpublished)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

### [Evil Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/xii-evil-days)

Cupples is mentioned as being away on travels; Trent hopes to consult him for more information about the situation.

### [XIII: Eruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/xiii-eruption)

Returns to London; Trent avoids asking him about the case.

### [XIV: Writing a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/xiv-writing-a-letter)

Mentioned as the person Trent has already told the whole story to, and who will be present at the interview with Marlowe.

### [Double Cunning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/xv-double-cunning)

Interjects with questions about Manderson's state of mind and what Marlowe would have done if another were accused.

### [The Last Straw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/chapters/xvi-the-last-straw)

Reveals he shot Manderson and explains his actions that night.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters/nathaniel_burton_cupples
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/trent_s_last_case_se/characters