In the short story The Yellow Jasmine Mystery (later, chapters 9 and 10 of The Big Four), Gerald Paynter is the nephew of Mr Paynter. Gerald had been invited to make his home with his uncle when the latter decided to settle down at Market Handford, Worcester after many years of travel. Gerald, an impoverished artist, was only too glad to do so. For a time, after the murder of his uncle, Gerald was regarded as a key suspect as he stood to gain from his uncle's death.
Gerald was described as an amiable, rather weak-looing young man with a soft brown beard and a peculiar flowing tie.