Phidias

In the novel The Sittaford Mystery, the Phidias is a steamer belonging to the Blue Funnel shipping line. Brian Pearson sailed from Melbourne on board the ship. The ship called at Cape Town before reaching England. According to police investigations, no mother and daughter pair got on board the ship there but one such pair the Johnsons did board at Melbourne and they answered to the description of Mrs Willett and Violet Willett. Violet later admitted that she had met Brian Pearson on board the Phideas and they got engaged while on board.