Character guide

Lord Dawlish

major

Also known as Bill, Bill Chalmers, William FitzWilliam Delamere Chalmers, William Chalmers, plain Bill Chalmers, old Bill, Dawlish, Bill Dawlish

A young English lord who inherits a fortune and becomes the central romantic figure.

Elizabeth Boyd

major

Also known as Miss Elizabeth Boyd, Miss Boyd, Boyd

A strong-willed American woman who becomes entangled with Lord Dawlish.

Dudley Pickering

major

Also known as Mr. Dudley Pickering, Mr. Pickering, Pickering, Dudley

A wealthy American businessman and rival for Elizabeth's affections.

Nutty Boyd

supporting

Also known as Nutty, darling Nutty, the infatuated Nutty, the appalled Nutty, the repentant Nutty

Elizabeth's flighty and romantic younger sister.

Claire Fenwick

supporting

Also known as Claire, dear old Claire, Miss Fenwick, Darling Claire

A charming and manipulative woman from Lord Dawlish's past.

Lady Pauline Wetherby

supporting

Also known as Pauline, Lady Wetherby, Lady Pauline Wetherby, Pauline Wetherby

A sharp-tongued society matron and friend of the family.

Lord Wetherby

supporting

Also known as Wetherby, Only Lord Wetherby

Pauline's husband, a genial but somewhat absent-minded nobleman.

Algie Wetherby

supporting

Also known as Algie

The Wetherbys' son, a young man about town.

Gerald Nichols

minor

Also known as Mr. Gerald Nichols, Jerry Nichols, Nichols, Jerry, Mr. Nichols

A friend of Lord Dawlish and a fellow club member.

Eustace

minor

Also known as The Eustace

A mysterious and somewhat sinister figure who appears at the club.

Polly Davis

minor

Also known as poor Polly Davis, Polly

A former acquaintance of Lord Dawlish with a complicated past.

Daisy Leonard

minor

Also known as a Miss Leonard, Miss Daisy Leonard, Miss Leonard, Leonard

A young woman who becomes involved with Nutty Boyd.

Gates

minor

Lord Dawlish's loyal butler.

Ira J. Nutcombe

minor

Also known as Ira J., Nutcombe, old Nutcombe, Ira Nutcombe, Mr. Ira Nutcombe, old Mr. Nutcombe, old Ira Nutcombe, Uncle Ira

A wealthy American uncle whose death sets the plot in motion.

Roscoe Sherriff

minor

Also known as Sherriff, Mr. Sherriff, Mr. Roscoe Sherriff, Hang Roscoe Sherriff, Roscoe Sheriff

A lawyer involved in the Nutcombe estate.

Mr. Breitstein

minor

Also known as Breitstein, Planting Breitstein

A businessman with interests in the Nutcombe fortune.

James

minor

A servant in the Wetherby household.

Clarence

minor

A friend of Algie Wetherby.

Flack

minor

Also known as old Flack, Mr. Flack

An older gentleman who appears at the club.

Percy

minor

Also known as little Percy

A young boy briefly mentioned in the story.

Heinrich Joerg

minor

Also known as Heinrich

A German acquaintance of the characters.

Polly Wetherby

minor

Also known as Polly

A relative of the Wetherby family.

Claude Nutcombe Boyd

minor

Also known as Claude Nutcombe

A relative of the Nutcombe family.

Brown

minor

A servant or minor functionary.

John Prescott

minor

Also known as John, Mr. John Prescott, Mr. Prescott

A friend of the main characters.

Maginnis

minor

Also known as Mr. Maginnis

A minor character in the story.

Riegelheimer

minor

A businessman associated with the Nutcombe estate.

Perkins

minor

Also known as The boy Perkins

A young servant.

Miss Devenish

minor

Also known as Devenish

A minor female character.

Captain Delaney

minor

Also known as Delaney

A military acquaintance.

Luella Delia Philpotts

minor

A name mentioned in passing.