Maxim de Winter and Colonel Julyan

Maxim de Winter and Colonel Julyan, the magistrate for Kerrith, are connected by the formal obligations of county life and by Julyan's long-standing respect for the de Winter family. Julyan's role places him at the center of the legal proceedings following the discovery of Rebecca's boat, and his actions throughout the inquest and its aftermath demonstrate a careful balance between official duty and personal sympathy for Maxim.

Role in the Inquest

Colonel Julyan is present at the inquest into Rebecca's death, where he observes the proceedings with a magistrate's eye. When the boat-builder James Tabb reveals that the boat had been deliberately scuttled—with holes driven in the planking and the seacocks turned full on—Julyan's attention sharpens. He notes the implications of this evidence, which contradicts the theory of an accidental drowning. During the inquest, Julyan asks Maxim a pointed and personal question: "Were relations between you and the late Mrs de Winter perfectly happy?" . This question, though painful, is a standard line of inquiry for a coroner seeking a motive for suicide or murder. Maxim's controlled response, and the subsequent fainting of the narrator, momentarily shift the focus of the room.

Support After the Verdict

Following the suicide verdict, Julyan does not simply close the case. He becomes an active participant in the effort to resolve the lingering doubts raised by Favell's accusations. When Jack Favell appears at Manderley that evening, brandishing Rebecca's note and accusing Maxim of murder, Julyan is summoned by Maxim himself. Julyan listens to Favell's blackmail attempt and immediately recognizes it for what it is, calling it "blackmail, pure and simple" . He does not, however, dismiss Favell out of hand; instead, he insists on following the evidence. He questions Ben, the local half-wit, and when Ben proves a useless witness, Julyan turns his attention to the name "Baker" found in Rebecca's engagement diary. It is Julyan who deduces that this appointment might hold the key to the mystery, and he organizes the trip to consult Doctor Baker the following morning.

The Journey to Doctor Baker

Julyan accompanies Maxim and the narrator on the drive to Barnet to see Doctor Baker, with Favell following in his own car. Throughout the journey, Julyan's manner is that of a steady, reliable ally. He sleeps in the back of the car, offers practical advice on the route, and makes small talk about the weather and golf to ease the tension. When they finally meet Doctor Baker, it is Julyan who takes the lead in explaining the situation, apologizing for the "unorthodox invasion" and requesting the doctor's help. He listens intently as Baker reveals that Rebecca was suffering from a terminal, inoperable cancer—a fact she had kept secret from everyone. Julyan immediately grasps the significance: this provides a clear motive for suicide. He tells Maxim, "I always felt the solution would lie in Baker" , and later offers to quietly let the truth be known in Kerrith to quash any gossip.

Final Acts of Protection

After the visit to Baker, Julyan's support becomes more explicit. He warns Favell that as a magistrate, he has the power to deal with blackmail effectively, telling him, "Blackmail is not much of a profession, Mr Favell. And we know how to deal with it in our part of the world" . He then advises Maxim to get away for a while, suggesting Switzerland, and hints that "certain little difficulties might arise" from local talk, implying that absence would allow the story to die down. Julyan's final gesture is one of discretion: he declines Maxim's offer of dinner, choosing to visit his sister in St John's Wood instead, and takes his leave with a firm handshake and a promise to handle any further trouble from Favell. His conduct throughout the crisis—from the inquest to the final farewell—demonstrates a man who, while bound by the letter of the law, is willing to use his position and influence to protect a man he believes to be innocent, or at least deserving of a second chance.