Martin Ricardo

Schomberg

Ricardo, as Jones's lieutenant, antagonizes and manipulates the hotelkeeper Schomberg, who fears and resents him.

Mr. Jones

Ricardo serves as Jones's loyal but cunning subordinate, executing his schemes with violent efficiency.

Lena

Ricardo becomes obsessively lustful toward Lena, while she plays along to manipulate and ultimately betray him.

Axel Heyst

Heyst and Ricardo are direct adversaries, with Ricardo threatening Heyst's life and relationship with Lena.

Pedro

Pedro is Ricardo's brutish, mute henchman, used for physical intimidation and violence.

Schomberg

Ricardo, as Jones's lieutenant, antagonizes and manipulates the hotelkeeper Schomberg, who fears and resents him.

Mr. Jones

Ricardo serves as Jones's loyal but cunning subordinate, executing his schemes with violent efficiency.

Schomberg

Ricardo, as Jones's lieutenant, antagonizes and manipulates the hotelkeeper Schomberg, who fears and resents him.

Mr. Jones

Ricardo serves as Jones's loyal but cunning subordinate, executing his schemes with violent efficiency.

Axel Heyst

Heyst and Ricardo are direct adversaries, with Ricardo threatening Heyst's life and relationship with Lena.

Lena

Ricardo becomes obsessively lustful toward Lena, while she plays along to manipulate and ultimately betray him.

Pedro

Pedro is Ricardo's brutish, mute henchman, used for physical intimidation and violence.

Author's Note

Based on a fellow passenger on a schooner in the Gulf of Mexico, whose green eyes and secretive manner suggested a dangerous nature.

Part I

Mr. Jones's devoted and dangerous secretary, accompanying him to Schomberg's establishment.

IV

Ricardo is introduced as Mr. Jones's secretary, a pockmarked man with a harsh voice and a savage grin.

V

Ricardo is Mr. Jones's secretary, described as having a feline, inhuman quality. He confirms their desperate nature with grins and gestures, and his presence adds to Schomberg's unease.

VI

Croupier and enforcer, recounts to Schomberg the story of their escape from a schooner, including threatening the captain.

Chapter VII

Ricardo dominates the conversation, boasting about his gambling philosophy, recounting a violent episode with alligator hunters, and explaining Mr. Jones's fits of boredom. He displays a catlike, predatory demeanor.

VIII

Listens to Schomberg's tale, becomes interested in the prospect of plunder, and agrees to consider the plan while managing Mr. Jones.

VI

Ricardo is one of the men in the boat, initially appearing weak but quickly revealing a violent and aggressive nature. He attacks Pedro with a tiller.

VII

Ricardo narrates their ordeal at sea, boasts of beating Pedro, and tries to gauge Heyst's character.

X

Plots the extraction of Heyst's treasure, worries about Wang, and deliberately conceals Lena's presence from Mr. Jones.

I

Watches the bungalow with animal-like patience, then enters and charges at Lena.

II

Assaults Lena, then tries to win her over as an ally in the plot to rob Heyst.

III

Ricardo is trapped in Lena's room but escapes via a window with her help; he is impressed by her courage and tries to recruit her.

VI

Lingering on the verandah, he spots Heyst and Lena walking together and decides to hide the woman's presence from Mr. Jones, driven by a volatile mix of lust, jealousy, and a sense of kinship.

VII

Becomes distracted and sentimental after seeing Lena, shaves, and contemplates conflict with his governor.

IX

Ricardo arrives as a guest, displaying a mix of cunning and false candor, and secretly grips Lena's arm under the table.

Chapter X

Ricardo negotiates with Heyst, whistles for Pedro, and later dashes ahead to inform Mr. Jones of Heyst's arrival.

Chapter XI

Ricardo is described as being absorbed in contemplation of Lena, and Mr. Jones suspects he has betrayed him.

XII

Returns to the bungalow, expresses violent love and desire for Lena, and gives her his knife. He is spurned and then flees after a shot is fired.

XIII

His dagger is held by Davidson; Lena claims it as the symbol of her victory.

XIV

Ricardo is shot dead by Mr. Jones; his body is left to rot on the island.