John Brine: Paul Carteret's manservant at the Dower House; Lizzie Brine: his sister, Emily Carteret's maid
Marie-Madeleine Buisson: friend of Emily Carteret
Paul Carteret: Lord Tansor's cousin and secretary
Emily Carteret: youngest daughter of Paul Carteret
Revd Achilles Brabazon Daunt: Rector of Evenwood
Elizabeth Daunt, née Brackenbury: first wife of Achilles Daunt and mother of Phoebus Daunt
Phoebus Rainsford Daunt: son of Achilles Daunt by his first wife, Elizabeth
Caroline Daunt, née Petrie: second cousin of Lord Tansor and second wife of Achilles Daunt
Julius Hereward Verney Duport: 25th Baron Tansor, owner of Evenwood and patron of Phoebus Daunt
Laura Rose Duport, née Fairmile: Lord Tansor's first wife, childhood friend of Simona Glyver
Hester Duport, née Trevalyn: Lord Tansor's second wife
Julia Eames: Laura Duport's companion
Isabella Gallini: known as Bella; a high-class prostitute and sometime mistress of Edward Glyver
Prospero Gallini: Isabella's father; an Italian fencing master with whom Glyver lodges
Captain Edward Charles Glyver: a half-pay Hussars officer; husband of Simona Glyver
Simona Mary Glyver, née More: wife of Captain Edward Glyver and childhood friend of Laura Duport
Edward Charles Glyver (alias Edward Glapthorn): the book's narrator and main character
Dorothy (Dorrie) Grainger: a reformed prostitute; Mrs Betty Grainger: her mother, who cleans Glyver's rooms in Temple Street
Tom Grexby: Glyver's schoolmaster at Sandchurch
Albert Harrigan (real name Albert Parker): Mr Tredgold's manservant; Rebecca Harrigan (real name Dickson): his supposed wife and maid to Mr Tredgold
Fordyce Jukes: senior clerk at Tredgold, Tredgold & Orr
Willoughby Le Grice: old school friend of Glyver
Lewis Pettingale: barrister of Gray's Inn and college friend of Phoebus Daunt
Josiah Pluckrose: murderer and strong-arm man
Harriet de Québriac, née Gilman: widowed wife of the Marquis de Québriac and aunt of Laura Duport
Christopher Tredgold: Senior Partner at Tredgold, Tredgold & Orr; Dr Jonathan Tredgold and Miss Rowena Tredgold: his brother and sister