Who is Superintendent Bowles from A Test of Wills and what is their importance?

A senior inspector at Scotland Yard whose resentment of Ian Rutledge seems to be of long standing, Bowles is jealous of Rutledge's superior birth, background, and ability to solve cases. The book begins with Bowles reviewing a letter in a girlish hand that reveals something about Rutledge that Bowles can use to torment him. Bowles is sure that Rutledge will botch the Colonel Harris case.