The Old Man in the Corner

About “The Old Man in the Corner”

The Old Man, also known as Bill Owen, is a character in a book by Emma Orczy. He sits in a cheap restaurant where journalists often gather and plays with a piece of string, tying it into complex knots as he speaks. He talks to Polly Burton, a young newspaperwoman he has met briefly. He discusses crimes reported in the news, describing the situations and the people involved. He then offers the correct solution to the crimes, which the police have failed to find, often with a tone of mockery.