The Music of Chance

A professional gambler who loses his net worth when robbed during a game, then becomes indebted to Nashe. He is shrewd, impulsive, and increasingly resigned as circumstances push him into a long, coercive labor contract on the estate. His stubbornness and fear of captivity drive many of the plot’s tense moments.

A former fireman with an inheritance, Nashe freely travels and decides to back Pozzi for a rematch. He initially stays cool and generous but grows more controlling as debt and pride steer his actions. His willingness to gamble with wealth leads to deadly consequences and a warped sense of loyalty.

One half of the wealthy duo who own the huge estate. He and Flower orchestrate the terms of the debt settlement and the wall-building plan, embodying the calm, calculating side of power that wealth can confer.

The other powerful owner, equally cunning, who negotiates the staring of the 50-day labor wall. He uses the promise of wealth to keep Nashe and Pozzi in line, representing the colder, more manipulative face of privilege.

The foreman overseeing the wall project. He keeps an eye on Nashe and Pozzi and becomes a foil for their escalating tension, especially after Pozzi assaults him. He later becomes willing to escalate violence, signaling the dark energy of the labor situation.

Murks’s son-in-law who plays a game of pool with Nashe and later becomes a casualty in a car crash that also kills Murks. His relationship to Murks and his role in Nashe’s circle emphasize the precariousness of trust around the debt.

A cameo by the author as a driver who offers Nashe a lift at the end, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the source material and a reminder of the story’s literary origins.