In the short story The Love Detectives, Colonel Melrose is the Chief Constable of a county in England and a friend of Mr Satterthwaite. While hosting his friend, Colonel Melrose is notified of the murder of a notable personality in his county, that of Sir James Dwighton. Melrose invites Mr Satterthwaite to join him in the investigation.
The colonel is described as a simple country gentleman whose passion is sport. He is the exact opposite of Mr Satterthwaite who delights in an urban environment. Melrose comes to London only on business and then only rarely and reluctantly.