Blanche de Courtornieu

VI

Seen on the arm of Martial de Sairmeuse; described as a small, blond young woman.

VII

Accompanies her father to welcome the duke; Martial offers her his arm for a promenade.

XIII

Reads Marie-Anne's letter to test Martial, dismisses him to avoid a meeting, and reveals her jealous and manipulative nature.

XIV

Decides to marry Martial out of jealousy of Marie-Anne, and uses her coquetry to fascinate him during dinner.

Chapter XVI

Spies on the baron and Martial from the woods, accompanied by Aunt Medea.

XVII

Manipulates her father and uses her charm to secure Martial; becomes jealous and cruelly taunts Marie-Anne.

XXII

Consumed by jealousy over Martial's absence, she decides to ask her father to exile Lacheneur; observes the peasant commotion on her way to Montaignac.

XXV

Implores her father to rid her of Marie-Anne, influencing the marquis's harsh stance.

XXXIII

Testifies against Baron d'Escorval out of hatred and resentment, believing it her duty, and remains indifferent to the suffering around her.

XXXIV

The new Marquise de Sairmeuse, radiant at the wedding but later desperate when Martial leaves her.

XXXIX

Attempts to calm the guests after Martial's outburst, then conspires with her father to send soldiers to the Reche, driven by jealousy and a desire for revenge.

XL

Pale and cold, she confronts the Duke with Martial's letter, declares herself deserted and the most miserable of creatures, forgives Martial, and departs with her father, saying they will never meet again.

XLII

Furious at Martial's maneuvers, she plots revenge and recruits Chupin as a spy, while playing the devoted daughter to her ailing father.

XLIII

Consumed by jealousy and revenge, she interrogates Chupin about Marie-Anne and plans to spy on Martial.

XLV

Confronts Chupin, spies on Marie-Anne, and poisons the bouillon in a jealous rage.

XLVI

Administers poison to Marie-Anne, watches her die, is discovered, swears to care for Marie-Anne's child, then flees with Chupin's help.

XLVIII

Confesses to murdering Marie-Anne out of jealousy; plans to secretly recover Marie-Anne's child; manipulates Martial's sympathy during his visit.

L

Now Marquise de Sairmeuse, she is consumed by guilt and haunted by a phantom of Marie-Anne. She resolves to search for Marie-Anne's child and arranges a move to Paris.

LI

Blanche announces the move to Paris, confronts Aunt Medea's rebellion, and resolves to steal her father's money to buy her freedom from Medea's control.

LII

Now the Duchesse de Sairmeuse, she is blackmailed by Chupin's son and lives in fear of exposure for her past crimes.

LIII

Now the Duchesse de Sairmeuse, she is tormented by her past, visits the prison to see Chupin, pays off the Widow Chupin and Polyte, and denies Aunt Medea last rites, leading to a curse.

LIV

Duchess de Sairmeuse, secretly meets the Widow Chupin at the Poivrière; her casket reveals her involvement in Marie-Anne's death and blackmail.

LV

The duchess; she poisoned herself after confessing in a letter. Found dead by Martial.