John Marese Baskette

VII

The infant son of Lucia and Sternhold, whose birth triggers a rift between his parents and becomes the focus of inheritance schemes.

IX

Sternhold's son and heir, made a ward of Chancery and sent to Eton after the legal battle.

Chapter X

Now thirty, deeply in debt, brilliant and fascinating yet false and selfish; consumed by ambition for power and the Premiership, he has become ripe for any guilt.

The Tangled Web of Inheritance

The heir to the estate, heavily in debt and speculating on the Stock Exchange, conspiring with Theodore to overcome the claimants and financial obstacles.

XII

The heir, who desires to condense the scattered claimants into one person to destroy them at a blow; planning with Theodore.

XIII

Primary plotter; devises the plan to destroy the claimants and profit from salvage.

XIV

Conceives the idea of using poisonous gas after reading about gas properties, and collaborates with Theodore to plan the mass murder for salvage.

XV

Arranges bullion shipment via the Lucca and lures claimants with free passage; is thunderstruck by the new threat of Arthur Sibbold's heirs.

XI

The heir to the Sternhold estate, whose claim is being contested by the building society; he accompanies the claimants in his yacht.

The Ship of the Dead

The heir whose yacht rescued the Lucca; he is portrayed as pleasant and averse to salvage claims but constrained by debts and his cousin.

XIII

Invited Aymer on the Gloire de Dijon yacht; described as weak-minded and simple, being gulled by Marese.

XIV

His earlier generous offers had temporarily calmed the claimants, but the calm is shattered once they glimpse the wealth of Stirmingham.

Chapter XV

Issues his pronunciamento and opens his campaign; wins the election by over 1000 votes, dragged in his carriage by the mob.

I

Wealthy suitor of Lady Lechester, candidate for Stirmingham, and claimant to the city; appeals to Agnes's ambition through letters and conversation.

II

Heir of Stirmingham; uses legal dispute as pretext to court Lady Lechester, following Theodore's advice to marry for social position and potential inheritance.

IV

His offer of an earthly kingdom becomes a source of inner conflict for Agnes, competing with the allure of the spirit.

VI

Aymer suspects him of instigating Jason Waldron's murder due to his interest in the estate.

VII

Accused by Aymer of murdering Jason Waldron; Violet recalls his guilty start upon hearing her name.

VIII

Alarmed by Aymer's accusations and the building society threat; orchestrates a plan with Theodore.

The Approaching Nuptials

Basks in the social and financial benefits of his engagement to Lady Lechester; delivers a successful maiden speech, accepts a government office, and feels secure in his impending marriage.

Chapter XII

Marese Baskette's mistress performs on stage at the opera. He is also mentioned as having gone down into the vaults with Theodore earlier.

XIII

Bridegroom who is summoned back to The Towers upon Lady Lechester's disappearance; he identifies Aymer as a lunatic and works to crush him.