Despite his title, he is a man who seemingly makes no bricks; instead, he acts as the manager's secretary, and he is responsible for a good deal of the plot's entangling elements. For example:

• He reveals the reason why the manager hates Marlow
• He shows Marlow the painting which Kurtz left at the Central Station (one of the important symbols of the book).
• He reveals the reason why the manager hates Kurtz
• He unwillingly and indirectly lets Marlow know that the delay in getting rivets is intentional
• He lets Marlow know that the white men at the Central Station identify Marlow with Kurtz, as members of the "new gang of virtue."