A Damsel in Distress
Cast, not entirely in order of appearance
John, 7th Earl of Marshmoreton — never happier than when cultivating his roses; often mistaken for
MacPherson — his Lordship's gardener.
Lady Caroline Byng — The Earl's sister, step-mother to
Reggie Byng — who nurses a secret love for
Alice Faraday — the Earl's secretary, regarded by former employers as a jewel, by Lord Marshmoreton as "a perfect incubus".
Lady Patricia Maud Marsh — Lord Marshmoreton's daughter, who thinks she is in love with
Geoffrey Raymond — nephew, secretary, and heir of
Wilbur Raymond — a wealthy American businessman, not destined to outlive the story.
Brenda — Lady Maud's hostess in Wales when she met Geoffrey.
Mac — stout guardian of the stage door of the Regal Theatre.
George Bevan — a young American composer, always ready to help a damsel in distress.
Billie Dore — a chorus girl, with an unexpected interest in roses.
Yvonne 'Babe' Sinclair — another chorus girl, with a poor taste in men.
Spenser Gray — a fat young man, hoping to take advantage of Babe's poor taste.
Percy Wilbraham Marsh, Lord Belpher — Lord Marshmoreton's son and heir, a stout young man, with the manner of a well-dressed but overfed bloodhound.
A messenger boy, two shabby men, a shop girl and various bystanders — members of that class which will gather round and watch silently while a motorist mends a tyre.
An hotel commissionaire — bearer of unwelcome tidings.
A policeman — "a living statue of Vigilant Authority".
Keggs — Lord Marshmoreton's butler, "a man of reverend years, portly and dignified", which just shows how appearances can deceive.
A house agent — source of much information (mostly inaccurate) about the occupants of Belpher Castle.
Mr Forsyth — a friend of Billie Dore.
Albert the page — a young man of gruesome tastes and aspirations to be a butcher.
Susan — formerly the cook at Belpher Castle; married a "pleeceman".
Mrs Platt — wife of farmer Platt, who owns the cottage George has leased.
A reporter, representing the Belpher Intelligencer and Farmers' Guide.
Mrs Digby — housekeeper at Belpher Castle; "a motherly old lady".
Emily Ann Mackintosh — authoress of Roses Red and Roses White, which, Lord Marshmoreton is disappointed to discover, is not a horticultural treatise.
Edwin Plummer — has been in love "with a different girl every season".
Millie — his sister, a great fan of George's music.
Jack Ferris — Reggie Byng's bosom friend.
Freddie — one of the Castle staff.
Rev Cyril Ferguson — curate of the parish of Little Weeting; a man of decisive action.
Willis — a village blacksmith.
Francis, the Bishop — Percy's uncle; unknowingly has a narrow escape from death at the hands of his nephew.
Augusta — Maud's aunt; enjoys "a nice long walk".
assorted maids, valets, footmen
assorted gentry — dinner guests at the Castle.
Ernestine, a waitress at Ye Cosy Nooke tea-shop.
Mr Willoughby junior — the son in Willoughby and Son, Solicitors; master of the perfectly timed interruption.
Characters who speak (or otherwise play an active part) are shown in bold; characters who are merely mentioned or who play no significant part in the story are shown thus. Unnamed characters (eg a maid, a porter) are not listed unless they have a role in the plot. Real-life persons are not listed.
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