# Paul Pavilly — Short Fiction character guide > Paul Pavilly in Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Paul, old Pavilly, Pavilly **First appearance:** 0003-short-fiction ## Snapshot A young suitor narrating his own romantic misadventure, whose moonlit pursuit of Henriette turns dinner, a telegram, and a candlelit corridor into farce. ## Who they are 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. ## In the story ### [Paul's Mistress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/a-son) The politician who listens to the Academician and murmurs about the need to think of children without fathers. ### [A Reckless Passion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/madame-baptiste) The husband of the deceased, who bravely married her despite her past and is deeply grieving. ### [The Awakening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-awakening) A bold and enterprising suitor who mistakenly receives Jeanne's passionate embrace meant for another. ### [André’s Disease](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/andr-s-disease) Captain Sommerive, Mathilde's lover, who pinches the child André to silence him. ### [A Coup d'État](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/a-coup-d-tat) 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/a-wise-man) Lucien Delabarre, the tall, dark-bearded man who becomes the wife's lover, allowing Blérot to recover his health. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/happiness) The deaf old man, the former non-commissioned officer who eloped with Suzanne. ### [The Sisters Rondoli](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-sisters-rondoli) A friend of the narrator who accompanies him on the journey and interacts with the Rondoli sisters. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/roger-s-method) Roger, the husband who recounts his wedding-night humiliation and subsequent stratagem. ### [Our Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/our-letters) Mentioned as Paul Muret, the friend who hosts the narrator at Abelle. ### [The Mother Superior's Twenty-Five Francs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/ii) Tancret is the friend whose intimacy with Mme. Bondel is questioned and who Bondel plans to bring home. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/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. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters/paul_pavilly - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters