Mervyn Estcourt

In the Tommy and Tuppence short story The Man in the Mist, Mervyn "Bulger" Estcourt is a friend of Tommy Beresford whom he meets at the Grand Hotel in Adlington.

"Bulger" introduces the Beresfords to Gilda Glen. "Bulger" is probably local to Adlington as he is able to tell the Beresfords about the times for the train to London. He tells them about the short cut to the station through "Morgan's Avenue" and the tradition that there is a ghost of a dead policeman who walks his beat up and down the avenue. Also well up in society gossip, "Bulger" tells the Beresfords about the rumour that Gilda Glen would soon be marrying Lord Leconbury.

"Bulger" is described as "a big square-shouldered man of thirty years of age, with a round red beaming face, and dressed in golfing kit."

Portrayals
"Bulger" is portrayed by Constantine Gregory in LWT's 1983 adaptation of the story (Episode 8 of Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime). There is a bit more background information about "Bulger" in this adaptation. He had met Tommy during the First World War. He lives in Adlington with his wife and manages a cement business.

"Bulger" is given a larger role in the adaptation. Besides filling the Beresfords him with all sorts of background information at the beginning, he also becomes a prime suspect in the murder of Gilda Glen and is actually arrested for a time. He had apparently once known and had a relationship with Gilda Glen and had exchanged correspondence with her. Around the time of her murder, he had apparently gone to see her. He had climbed into the house through a window and gone up to her room but she was not home. His golf clubs he had left by the window and had taken them away when he left. "Bulger" was reticent about confessing his movements to the police because his wife would find out.