Characters of the Book
Philo Vance John F.-X. Markham District Attorney of New York County. Ernest Heath Sergeant of the Homicide Bureau. Professor Bertrand Dillard A famous physicist. Belle Dillard His niece. Sigurd Arnesson His adopted son: an associate professor of mathematics. Pyne The Dillard butler. Beedle The Dillard cook. Adolph Drukker Scientist and author. Mrs. Otto Drukker His mother. Grete Menzel The Drukker cook. John Pardee Mathematician and chess expert: inventor of the Pardee gambit. J. C. Robin Sportsman and champion archer. Raymond Sperling Civil Engineer. John E. Sprigg Senior at Columbia University. Dr. Whitney Barstead An eminent neurologist. Quinan Police Reporter of the World. Madeleine Moffat Chief Inspector O’Brien Of the Police Department of New York City. William M. Moran Commanding Officer of the Detective Bureau. Captain Pitts Of the Homicide Bureau. Guilfoyle Detective of the Homicide Bureau. Snitkin Detective of the Homicide Bureau. Hennessey Detective of the Homicide Bureau. Emery Detective of the Homicide Bureau. Burke Detective of the Homicide Bureau. Captain Dubois Finger-print expert. Dr. Emanuel Doremus Medical Examiner. Swacker Secretary to the District Attorney. Currie Vance’s valet.