Eccentric pair in fact splitting rent (9)

I believe the answer is:

character

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'eccentric' is the definition.
(I know that eccentric can be written as character)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for character that I've seen before include "Someone in play" , "Person in a play; letter" , "case" , "Type - letter" , "Part" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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