Billy is a 17-year-old ambitious businessman who travels to Bath for an unspecified corporate office job. He admires briskness and strives to emulate successful executives in both his walking pace and his attitudes. A creature of habit, he tends to judge situations quickly and relies on surface-level observations to guide him through unfamiliar environments.

The Landlady is a middle-aged woman operating a bed-and-breakfast in a formerly elegant, now run-down area of Bath. She presents herself as a welcoming, slightly absent-minded figure who maintains a cozy parlor with a roaring fireplace and household pets. Deeply attached to hearth and ritual, she fusses over her boardinghouse and offers unexpectedly cheap rent to visitors who meet her specific physical criteria.

Christopher is a young man who previously stayed at the bed-and-breakfast. He is described by the proprietress as a handsome, charming boy who was exactly the same age as her newest guest.

Gregory is one of the two previous boarders at the Bath residence. Like the other lodger, he is remembered for his unblemished youth and striking good looks.

Basil is a dachshund kept in the parlor of the Bath boardinghouse. His presence provides a comforting, domestic touch to the otherwise quiet residence.