Short Fiction · Character

Paul Pavilly

A young suitor narrating his own romantic misadventure, whose moonlit pursuit of Henriette turns dinner, a telegram, and a candlelit corridor into farce.

supporting

Also known as Paul, old Pavilly, Pavilly

First appearance: short fiction

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Paul Pavilly is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The protagonist, a senator's son, deeply in love with Madeleine, who drowns himself after being humiliated by her infidelity.

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Paul recounts the evening he dined beside Henriette, their hands and feet meeting under the tablecloth while her uncle and Rivet argued ahead of them on the moonlit path. When a telegram keeps her aunt away until morning, he tries to press his advantage, is repulsed, then wanders the dark corridor with a candlestick, half-mad and improvising excuses. His comic, self-aware confession of desire and clumsiness drives the story's central seduction scene.

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Character Web

23 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Social Hypocrisy and Class
Misfortune and Surprise
Varied Tales of Human Nature

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when Leuillet receives news of Souris’s sudden death and experienc…

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In the story

Paul Pavilly appears across 19 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Paul's Mistress
The protagonist, a senator's son, deeply in love with Madeleine, who drowns himself after being humiliated by her infidelity.
A Son
The politician who listens to the Academician and murmurs about the need to think of children without fathers.
A Reckless Passion
Appears as Paul d'Henricel, the friend who encourages Renoldi to pursue Madame Poinçot and later criticizes his treatment of her.
Madame Baptiste
The husband of the deceased, who bravely married her despite her past and is deeply grieving.
The Awakening
A bold and enterprising suitor who mistakenly receives Jeanne's passionate embrace meant for another.
André’s Disease
Captain Sommerive, Mathilde's lover, who pinches the child André to silence him.
A Coup d'État
Lieutenant Picart, a master-mason, refuses to obey the doctor's order to approach the town hall, citing fear of being shot.
A Wise Man
Lucien Delabarre, the tall, dark-bearded man who becomes the wife's lover, allowing Blérot to recover his health.
IV
Maze, the handsome colleague, mocks Lesable's childlessness in the office, provoking a fight. He is struck in the face with an inkstand and later seeks seconds for a duel.
Happiness
The deaf old man, the former non-commissioned officer who eloped with Suzanne.
The Sisters Rondoli
A friend of the narrator who accompanies him on the journey and interacts with the Rondoli sisters.
I
Pierre's friend who is obsessed with women and initially refuses to leave Paris, but is persuaded by the promise of Italian society.
II
The narrator's friend who accompanies him on the journey; he is skeptical and annoyed by the narrator's involvement with Francesca.
Blue and White
The narrator's friend, who reads aloud the news of avalanches in Piedmont and later tells the story of Jules Radier.
Roger's Method
Roger, the husband who recounts his wedding-night humiliation and subsequent stratagem.
Our Letters
Mentioned as Paul Muret, the friend who hosts the narrator at Abelle.
The Mother Superior's Twenty-Five Francs
The comical peasant who breaks his leg, amuses the nuns, and later breaks his other leg in a brothel after receiving twenty-five francs.
II
Tancret is the friend whose intimacy with Mme. Bondel is questioned and who Bondel plans to bring home.
III
Tancret (likely an alias for Paul Pavilly) is hesitant but agrees to return home with Bondel, and is visibly moved by Mme. Bondel's forgiveness.

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