| Characters in order of appearance | |
|---|---|
| Mr. Eli Guppy | Landlord of the “Blue Boar” |
| Alfred Shuttleworth | A temporary waiter |
| Mr. Fraser | A Visitor to the Hotel |
| P.C. Fish | The village constable |
| Arnold Jenkinson | Special correspondent to The Daily Mail |
| Professor Brand | A visitor to the Hotel |
| Jim Brand | His son |
| Mr. Haskins | A visitor to the Hotel |
| Janet Butterwick | A visitor to the Hotel |
| Sir David Grubb | A prosperous wool manufacturer |
| Lady Grubb | Sir David’s wife |
| Sergeant Ruggles | of the Peterborough Constabulary |
The scene is laid throughout in the lounge hall (or bar parlour) of the Blue Boar Hotel, Little Popton; about four miles from Peterborough.