* A lonely old man: He lives in a small flat and is desperately trying to win the affection of his neighbor, a lady who owns a tortoise.
* The woman: She is described as "a rather plump, jolly woman who was always smiling." She is fond of her tortoise, Alfie.
* Alfie the tortoise: He is the object of the man's affection, as the woman loves him dearly.
The story focuses on the man's elaborate plan to make the woman fall in love with him by making Alfie seem magically larger. He does this through a series of tricks and illusions.