Character guide

Richard Marwood

major

Also known as Richard, Poor Richard, Master Richard, Mr. Richard Marwood, Mr. Marwood, poor Mr. Marwood

A young man wrongly accused of murder, central to the mystery.

Joseph Peters

major

Also known as Joe Peters, Peters, Mr. Peters, Mr. Joseph Peters, Joe

A determined detective and friend who works to clear Richard's name.

Raymond Marolles

major

Also known as Monsieur Marolles, Raymond, Monsieur Raymond Marolles, Marolles, Monsieur de Marolles, Raymond de Marolles

A mysterious French nobleman with a hidden past and dark secrets.

Jabez North

major

Also known as Mr. Jabez North, Jabez, kind old Jabez, Mr. North

A seemingly benevolent schoolmaster with a sinister double life.

Valerie de Cevennes

major

Also known as Valerie, Mademoiselle Valerie de Cevennes, Mademoiselle Valerie, Mademoiselle de Cevennes, Mademoiselle

A beautiful and enigmatic Frenchwoman entangled in the plot.

Augustus Darley

supporting

Also known as Mr. Augustus Darley, Mr. Augustus, Augustus, Gus, Darley, Gus Darley, Mr. Darley

A friend of Richard Marwood and a key ally in the investigation.

Laurent Blurosset

supporting

Also known as Monsieur Blurosset, Monsieur Laurent Blurosset, Blurosset, Laurent, Monsieur de Blurosset

A French chemist and associate of the Marolles family.

Miss Kuppins

supporting

Also known as Kuppins, the fair Kuppins

A lively and loyal servant with a sharp tongue.

Valerie de Lancy

supporting

Also known as Valerie

A young woman connected to the De Lancy family and the mystery.

Mr. Jinks

supporting

Also known as Jinks, the affectionate Mr. Jinks

A nervous and devoted clerk to Jabez North.

Percy Cordonner

minor

Also known as Mr. Percy Cordonner, Percy, Mr. Cordonner

A young man involved in the social circles of the story.

Jim Lomax

supporting

Also known as Jim, Jim deary, Jim the labourer

A labourer who becomes a key witness in the murder case.

Marquis de Cevennes

minor

Also known as The Marquis de Cevennes, Monsieur le Marquis, Monsieur de Cevennes, The Marquis, Marquis de Cevennes

The proud father of Valerie de Cevennes.

Daredevil Dick

minor

Also known as poor Daredevil Dick, Dick, poor Dick

A reckless young man who meets a tragic fate.

Gaston de Lancy

minor

Also known as O Gaston de Lancy, Gaston, Monsieur de Lancy

A Frenchman whose disappearance sparks part of the mystery.

Count de Marolles

minor

Also known as The Count de Marolles, de Marolles

The father of Raymond Marolles, a figure from the past.

Slopperton

minor

Also known as Dr. Tappenden, Montague Harding, the Slopperton, living Slopperton

A school and location central to the initial crime.

Signor Mosquetti

minor

Also known as VI Signor Mosquetti, Mosquetti

An Italian singer who provides a crucial alibi.

Mr. Withers

minor

Also known as Mr. William Withers

A lawyer involved in the legal proceedings.

Mrs. Moper

minor

Also known as Mrs. Sarah Moper, Sarah Moper, Poor Moper, Moper

A housekeeper at the Slopperton school.

Mrs. Marwood

minor

Also known as a Mrs. Marwood, Mr. and Mrs. Marwood

Richard Marwood's mother.

Montague Harding

minor

Also known as Mr. Montague Harding, Mr. Harding, Mister Harding

A murdered schoolboy, the victim of the central crime.

The Smasher

minor

Also known as The Left-Handed Smasher, Smasher

A criminal with a distinctive left-handed blow.

Miss Smithers

minor

Also known as Smithers, the bewildered Smithers

A governess or teacher at the school.

Mademoiselle Finette

minor

Also known as Finette, mademoiselle

A French maid in service to Valerie de Cevennes.

Jim Stilson

minor

Also known as Jim, James

A sailor or labourer with knowledge of the past.

Blind Peter

minor

Also known as Peter

A blind man who lives near the scene of a crime.

Brandolph

minor

Also known as Brandolph of the Brand, the Brand

A mysterious figure associated with a secret society.

Isabel Darley

minor

Also known as Isabel, Bell

Augustus Darley's sister and a love interest.

Captain Lansdown

minor

Also known as IX Captain Lansdown

A police captain investigating the case.

Mrs. Martha Jones

minor

Also known as Mrs. Martha, Martha, Mrs. Jones, Jones

A landlady or housekeeper in Slopperton.

Mr. Splitters

minor

Also known as Splitters

A local tradesman or official.

Sillikens

minor

A servant or minor functionary.

Isabella Darley

minor

Also known as Bell, Darley

Another name for Isabel Darley, Augustus's sister.

Argyle Fitz-Bertram

minor

Also known as Mr. Argyle Fitz-Bertram, Argyle, Fitz-Bertram, Mr. Fitz-Bertram

A fashionable gentleman about town.

The Elvino

minor

Also known as Elvino, Monsieur Elvino

An opera singer performing in London.

Slosh

minor

A servant or messenger.

Madame Elizabeth

minor

Also known as Liza, Eliza, Madame

A Frenchwoman, possibly a servant or relative.

Volpes

minor

Also known as Mr. Volpes

A moneylender or jeweller.

The Lascar

minor

Also known as Lascar

An Indian sailor involved in a subplot.

Paul Moucée

minor

Also known as Monsieur Moucée, Monsieur Paul Moucée, Moucée

A French associate of the Marolles circle.

Vorkins

minor

Also known as Mr. Vorkins

A lawyer or clerk.

Father Pérot

minor

Also known as Father

A French priest.

Gennaro

minor

An Italian servant or musician.

Rinval

minor

Also known as Monsieur Rinval

A French acquaintance of the De Cevennes.

Mujeebez

minor

An exotic foreign character, possibly a servant.

Sararanne

minor

A female character, possibly a maid or dancer.

Billy Withers

minor

Also known as Bill Withers, Bill

A young boy, possibly a relative of Mr. Withers.

Dr. Tappenden

minor

Also known as June Dr. Tappenden

The headmaster of the Slopperton school.

Sarah Jane

minor

Also known as Jane, Sarah

A servant girl.

Countess de Marolles

minor

Also known as Countess, the Countess de Marolles

The mother of Raymond Marolles.

Mr. Budgen

minor

Also known as Budgen

A local tradesman or innkeeper.

Lady Londersdon

minor

A society lady.

Tom Jones

minor

Also known as poor Tom, Mrs. Jones, Tom

A henpecked husband, a minor comic figure.

Madame de Lancy

minor

Also known as Madame

The mother of Gaston de Lancy.

Miss Jones

minor

A minor female character.

Martha

minor

Also known as old Martha, Poor Martha

An elderly servant.

Harriet

minor

A young woman, possibly a servant.

Sarah Anne

minor

Also known as Sarah

A minor female character.

Bugden

minor

Also known as Mr. Bugden

A local official or tradesman.

Miss Tappenden

minor

Dr. Tappenden's daughter.

Mr. Hemmar

minor

Also known as Hemmar

A lawyer or clerk.