Character guide

André-Louis Moreau

major

Also known as Louis, André, M. André, André-Louis, Louis Moreau, M. Moreau

André-Louis Moreau drifts from provincial law courts to a ragged travelling theatre, where his improvisations as Scaramouche make the troupe's fortune and his own name. Beneath the icy cynicism he shows Leandre lies a smoldering thirst for vengeance against the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr and the informer Binet. His refusal to play the grieving lover, his habit of turning every sincerity into a performance, makes him both magnetic and unreachable as the Revolution gathers around him.

M. Binet

major

Also known as Binet, Scaramouche, Florimond Binet, the great mime Florimond Binet

Binet has spent a lifetime on the road, playing Pantaloon and counting every sou, and he sees in André-Louis a chance to escape hedges and empty bellies forever. His oily gratitude curdles as the company begins to credit Scaramouche, not Binet, for its success, and the malevolence that only slumbers in him stirs. His resentment of the partner who fills his purse while emptying him of command quietly poisons the troupe's triumph.

Aline de Kercadiou

major

Also known as Aline, Cousin Aline, Mademoiselle de Kercadiou, Mlle. de Kercadiou

Aline de Kercadiou moves between the drawing rooms of the old nobility and the dangerous pull of her cousin's world, bound by family loyalty yet unwilling to see André-Louis as merely a scoundrel. She alone names his blindness, teasing that she has never known him to lack presumption, and the moment of their clasped hands before her father suggests what both have long refused to admit. Her presence raises the stakes of every quarrel between André-Louis and the men of her class.

Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr

major

Also known as the Marquis, M. de La Tour d'Azyr, La Tour d'Azyr, M. le Marquis

M. de La Tour d'Azyr moves through the salons with the assurance of a man who has never been answered, disposing of hotheads like Lagron with his skill and calling it order. His composure cracks when André-Louis names him assassin to his face, and for once he descends to argument with a canaille, losing dignity in the attempt. His revived passion for Aline is the purest feeling of his life, and it makes his coming duel with her cousin a matter of pride, love, and blood at once.

M. de Kercadiou

supporting

Also known as de Kercadiou, Kercadiou, Quintin de Kercadiou, Uncle Quintin

Quintin de Kercadiou presides over Gavrillac with the ease of a nobleman who believes his class owes everything and should be owed everything in return, and he writes his godson a letter of wounded indignation. Yet the fundamental kindliness beneath his temper surfaces the instant La Tour d'Azyr calmly predicts the young man's death, and his affection for André-Louis overwhelms his outrage. His torn loyalties between class and kin make him a barometer of the world the Revolution is about to break.

Philippe de Vilmorin

supporting

Also known as Philippe, Vilmorin, de Vilmorin, poor Philippe

Philippe de Vilmorin belongs to the earnest, idealistic youth of the old order, a friend whose warmth and conviction André-Louis remembers as the last thing before his world turns cold. His fate at the hands of the Marquis and Binet transforms private grief into public grievance, and the memory of "poor Philippe" shadows every performance Scaramouche gives. Without him there is no duel, no flight into the theatre, no revolutionary mask.

Le Chapelier

supporting

Also known as Chapelier, M. Le Chapelier, President Le Chapelier

A revolutionary orator whose gift for turning Beaumarchais into insurrection makes him the voice of the coming storm — and André-Louis's trusted ally.

Climène

supporting

Also known as the unfortunate Climène

Binet's hazel-eyed leading lady, queen of the provincial stage, who dreams of Paris and shares the curtain calls with Scaramouche himself.

Leandre

supporting

Also known as M. Leandre, poor Leandre

The troupe's beautiful but languid juvenile lead, forever sighing after Climène and forever falling short of the passion he plays.

Mme. la Comtesse de Plougastel

supporting

Also known as Mme. de Plougastel, de Plougastel, Plougastel

A noblewoman whose kindness to André-Louis carries an unexplained weight of obligation, and whose past holds secrets she guards closely.

M. de Chabrillane

supporting

Also known as de Chabrillane, Chabrillane, the watchful Chabrillane

A dangerous swordsman of the old aristocracy, numbered among the spadassinicides whose reputations André-Louis has already begun to bury.

Danton

supporting

Also known as M. Danton

A thunderous voice of the Revolution, coarse, charismatic, and unafraid — the kind of man who sets a crowd by the ears and knows it.

Pantaloon

minor

Also known as M. Pantaloon, Poor old Pantaloon

An elderly actor in Binet's troupe, often playing the foolish father.

Polichinelle

minor

A hunchbacked puppet and comic character in Binet's theatre.

Rougane

minor

Also known as young Rougane, Young Rougane

A young Breton nobleman and friend of André-Louis.

Kersain

minor

A Breton nobleman and acquaintance of André-Louis.

M. de Lesdiguières

minor

Also known as M. Lesdiguières

An elderly nobleman and fencing master who trains André-Louis.

Bertrand des Amis

minor

Also known as M. Bertrand des Amis, M. des Amis, des Amis

A fencing master and friend who aids André-Louis in Paris.

Lagron

minor

Also known as poor Lagron, Emmanuel Lagron, deputy Lagron

A deputy in the National Assembly, a colleague of Le Chapelier.

M. Necker

minor

Also known as Necker, the wonderful M. Necker

The French finance minister, a historical figure mentioned in the narrative.

Harlequin

minor

A comic servant character in the commedia dell'arte troupe.

Columbine

minor

Also known as the returning Columbine

A clever maidservant character in the commedia dell'arte troupe.

Mabey

minor

A servant or minor functionary in the story.

Madame la Comtesse de Sautron

minor

Also known as Madame de Sautron, Mme. de Sautron

Wife of M. de Sautron, a noblewoman in aristocratic circles.

Bénoît

minor

A servant at the Kercadiou estate, loyal to André-Louis.

Robespierre

minor

Also known as de Robespierre

A revolutionary leader, mentioned in political contexts.

Fresnel

minor

A lawyer and colleague of André-Louis in Rennes.

Jean-Jacques

minor

Also known as Jacques, the diligent Jacques

A servant or attendant in the Kercadiou household.

M. de Vilmorin

minor

Also known as de Vilmorin

Father of Philippe de Vilmorin, a grieving aristocrat.

Mademoiselle Binet

minor

Also known as Mlle Binet, Mlle. Binet

Daughter of M. Binet, a young woman in the theatre troupe.

Rhodomont

minor

Also known as the gentle Rhodomont, the cowardly Rhodomont

A braggart actor in Binet's troupe, often playing the swaggering soldier.

M. de Plougastel

minor

Husband of Madame de Plougastel, a nobleman with political ties.

Gervais

minor

A servant in the Kercadiou household.

Isaac

minor

A Jewish moneylender or merchant encountered by André-Louis.

M. de Sautron

minor

Also known as de Sautron, M. le Comte de Sautron, Sautron

A nobleman and associate of the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr.

Pierrot

minor

A sad clown character in the commedia dell'arte troupe.

Parvissimus

minor

Also known as M. Parvissimus

A pompous actor in Binet's troupe, often playing the doctor.

La Binet

minor

Wife of M. Binet, a member of the theatre troupe.

Étienne de Kercadiou

minor

Also known as Étienne de Gavrillac

A relative of the Kercadiou family, possibly André-Louis's father.

Pasquariel

minor

An actor in Binet's troupe, playing a comic servant.

Cordemais

minor

Also known as rascal Cordemais, M. Cordemais

A lawyer and colleague of André-Louis in Rennes.

Mirabeau

minor

Also known as Count Mirabeau

A famous revolutionary orator and statesman, briefly mentioned.

Seigneur de Gavrillac

minor

Also known as the Seigneur de Gavrillac, Gavrillac

The lord of the Gavrillac estate, a background nobleman.

Rédon

minor

A town or location in Brittany, possibly a character's name.

Guichen

minor

A naval commander or nobleman mentioned in passing.

Besenval

minor

A Swiss commander of royal troops, mentioned in historical context.

Danet

minor

A lawyer or official involved in the legal proceedings.

Maury

minor

Also known as The Abbé Maury

A conservative clergyman and orator in the National Assembly.

Bailly

minor

Also known as Mayor Bailly

The mayor of Paris during the Revolution, a historical figure.

Camille Desmoulins

minor

Also known as Desmoulins

A revolutionary journalist and orator, briefly mentioned.

Prince de Lambesc

minor

Also known as Lambesc, Prince Lambesc

A royalist commander who led cavalry against the crowd.

Ancenis

minor

A town or noble family name mentioned in the narrative.

de La Motte-Royau

minor

Also known as La Motte-Royau

A nobleman and associate of Chabrillane.

Old Rabouillet

minor

Also known as Rabouillet

An elderly servant or retainer in the Kercadiou household.

Chevalier de Chabrillane

minor

Also known as Le Chevalier de Chabrillane

A younger relative of M. de Chabrillane, a minor aristocrat.

M. de la Roche Jeannine

minor

Also known as M. de Jeannine

A nobleman mentioned in social contexts.

Marat

minor

Also known as Jean-Paul Mara

A radical revolutionary journalist, mentioned in political discussions.

Lafayette

minor

Also known as M. le Comte de Lafayette

A French general and revolutionary leader, briefly mentioned.

Vergniaud

minor

A Girondin leader and orator, mentioned in political context.

Brissot

minor

A Girondin leader and journalist, mentioned in political context.