| 1 | Ruth Ellington | McClure | Mr. Henry's client. |
| | William Jasper | Harper | Company owner. |
| | James | Mead | A senior partner of a law firm. |
| | Myrtle | | James's secretary. |
| | Janet | Harper | William's daughter. |
| 2 | Gilmore | Henry | Narrator and protagonist. |
| 5 | Tim | McClure | Ruth's adoptive brother. AKA: Timothy Washington. |
| 7 | John H. | McClure | Ruth's father. Deceased. AKA: John McCall. |
| | Samuel H. | Williamson | Businessman. |
| | Primo | Camera | World heavyweight boxing champion. |
| 9 | Ruth | McClure | Ruth (Ellington)'s mother. |
| | Phoebe | Murdoch | Tim's guardian. |
| 12 | Katie | Byrnes | Tim and Ruth's neighbor. |
| 14 | Mr. | Silverstein | Tailor. |
| 16 | Miss | Spindle | One of Harper's associates. |
| 17 | Dale | Carnegie | Author. |
| | Mr. | Harbison | Garage owner. |
| 21 | Mr. Hillman | Jolley | The owner of an accounting firm. |
| | Miss | Juson | Mr. Yoland's secretary. |
| | Mr. | Yoland | Mr. Jolley's business partner. |
| 24 | Dr. Ellis | Murdoch | Phoebe's father. |
| | Tobias | | Phoebe's father. |
| | Mrs. Kilganen | | Phoebe's long-time neighbor. |
| 35 | Mr. | Miles | The Harper's chauffeur. |
| | Genevieve | Knight | Mrs. Harper's nurse. |
| 41 | Alice Holt | Harper | William's wife. |
| 42 | Frank | Gregory | William's former lawyer. |
| | Holbert | | A policeman. |
| 49 | Miss | Crenshaw | The banker. |
| 50 | Catherine | Murdoch | Phoebe's sister. |
| 51 | George | Black | Gil's friend. |
| 60 | Mr. | Dudley | A doctor. |
