Armand Dessin

In the novel 4.50 from Paddington, Armand Dessin is a member of the Paris police. He is described as a "tall thin melancholy-looking man". Prior to the events of the novel, he had met Inspector Craddock once or twice, and the two of them got on well together.

M. Dessin finds out that Anna Stravinska fits the particulars Craddock had given, and so suggests that Craddock go over to France to find out more about her. He accompanies Craddock to see Madame Joilet, who runs the Ballet Maritski, the ballet company of which Anna was a member. He later notified Inspector Craddock that, as regards the talk that Anna Stravinska had gone on a criuise, one of the dancers in her troupe received a postcard from Anna from Jamaica.

M. Dessin also assures Craddock that the Sûreté will do their best to find out if there is any record of Edmund Crackenthorpe having married a French girl with the Christian name of Martine, just before the fall of Dunkirk. However, he says that a definite answer is doubtful, as many buildings and records had been destroyed by the war.