# Albert Werper — Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar character guide > Albert Werper in Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Werper, Lieutenant Albert Werper, Arab Lieutenant Albert Werper, the Belgian, the missing Belgian, Opar Werper **First appearance:** 0000-i-belgian-and-arab ## Snapshot A Belgian officer who traded his uniform for a raider's loyalty and a pouch of Opar gold strapped tight beneath his shirt. ## Who they are Werper is the novel's most quietly dangerous man: a deserter, a spy, and a thief who talks Tarzan out of slaughtering the Waziri because their treasure is walking exactly where he wants it borne. He survives Opar by luck and lies, and he survives the ape-man by flattery, always calculating the distance between himself and the noose. His secret pouch of jewels — withheld from Achmet Zek and coveted by everyone — is the fuse that turns allies into hunters and makes him the pivot of the book's chase. ## Relationships ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/tarzan) _rivalry_ Werper is a treacherous Belgian officer who repeatedly plots against Tarzan, driven by greed and jealousy. ### [Achmet Zek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/achmet_zek) _professional_ Achmet Zek is a ruthless Arab bandit leader who employs Werper as a reluctant ally in their criminal schemes. ### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/jane_clayton) _rivalry_ Werper kidnaps and threatens Jane, viewing her as a pawn in his schemes against Tarzan. ### [La](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/la) _psychological_ Werper manipulates La's emotions and uses her obsession with Tarzan to further his own greedy plans. ### [Mohammed Beyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/mohammed_beyd) _professional_ Mohammed Beyd is a fellow bandit and subordinate of Achmet Zek, working alongside Werper in their criminal enterprise. ### [Abdul Mourak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/abdul_mourak) _professional_ Abdul Mourak is a henchman working under Werper and Achmet Zek, involved in their criminal activities. ### [Menelek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/menelek) _professional_ Menelek is an Ethiopian prince who becomes entangled with Werper in political and treasure-hunting schemes. ### [Achmet Zek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/achmet_zek) _professional_ Achmet Zek is a ruthless Arab bandit leader who employs Werper as a reluctant ally in their criminal schemes. ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/tarzan) _rivalry_ Werper is a treacherous Belgian officer who repeatedly plots against Tarzan, driven by greed and jealousy. ### [Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/jane_clayton) _rivalry_ Werper kidnaps and threatens Jane, viewing her as a pawn in his schemes against Tarzan. ### [Tarzan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/tarzan) _rivalry_ Werper is a treacherous Belgian officer who repeatedly plots against Tarzan, driven by greed and jealousy. ### [Achmet Zek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/achmet_zek) _professional_ Achmet Zek is a ruthless Arab bandit leader who employs Werper as a reluctant ally in their criminal schemes. ## In the story ### [I: Belgian and Arab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/i-belgian-and-arab) A disgraced Belgian lieutenant who murders his captain and a sentry, then flees into the jungle. He joins Achmet Zek's band and conspires to kidnap Tarzan's wife. ### [On the Road to Opar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/ii-on-the-road-to-opar) Disguised as M. Jules Frecoult, he spies on Tarzan and Jane, overhears the plan to go to Opar, and decides to follow Tarzan to steal the treasure. ### [Prophecy and Fulfillment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/iv-prophecy-and-fulfillment) Follows Tarzan to Opar, hides in the treasure vault, and plans to steal the gold. He is terrified by Tarzan's victory cry but continues out of fear of Achmet Zek. ### [The Altar of the Flaming God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/v-the-altar-of-the-flaming-god) Escapes the vault, navigates tunnels, and is captured by Opar's priests for sacrifice. ### [VII: The Jewel-Room of Opar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/vii-the-jewel-room-of-opar) Lies bound on the altar as a sacrifice, witnesses Tarzan's battle with the lion. ### [The Escape from Opar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/viii-the-escape-from-opar) Astounded by Tarzan's transformation, Werper decides to exploit Tarzan's amnesia for personal gain, leading him toward the Greystoke bungalow. ### [IX: The Theft of the Jewels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/ix-the-theft-of-the-jewels) Discovers the murdered blacks, fears Tarzan, steals the jewels, and follows the Waziri. ### [X: Achmet Zek Sees the Jewels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/x-achmet-zek-sees-the-jewels) Returns to the Arab camp ragged and disheveled after escaping the jungle. He secretly possesses the jewels from Opar, but is discovered by Achmet Zek and narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by fleeing into the night. ### [Tarzan Becomes a Beast Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xi-tarzan-becomes-a-beast-again) Stands over Tarzan with a knife but fears to strike; flees with the jewels when a lion approaches. ### [La Seeks Vengeance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xii-la-seeks-vengeance) Mentioned as the one who held the knife when it left Opar, but La's vengeance is focused on Tarzan. ### [A Priestess but Yet a Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xiv-a-priestess-but-yet-a-woman) The Belgian thief who stole Tarzan's jewels; Tarzan tracks his spoor through the village and into the jungle. ### [The Flight of Werper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xv-the-flight-of-werper) Werper is captured by Abdul Mourak, pretends to be a French hunter, is taken prisoner, and later hides from an Arab pursuer, witnessing a lion attack the horseman. ### [The Deadly Peril of Jane Clayton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xvii-the-deadly-peril-of-jane-clayton) Bargains with Abdul Mourak for freedom by promising to lead him to a hidden gold cache, diverting the Abyssinians southward. ### [The Fight for the Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xviii-the-fight-for-the-treasure) Rides with the Abyssinians, helps unearth the gold, flees from Achmet Zek, and engages in a duel with him. ### [XIX: Jane Clayton and the Beasts of the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xix-jane-clayton-and-the-beasts-of-the-jungle) Disguised as Jules Frecoult, he ambushes and shoots Achmet Zek from hiding. ### [XX: Jane Clayton Again a Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xx-jane-clayton-again-a-prisoner) Manipulates Jane and the raiders, searches for the missing jewels, and grows obsessively infatuated with her. ### [The Flight to the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xxi-the-flight-to-the-jungle) Plots to rescue Jane Clayton, kills Mohammed Beyd, and stages his death as a suicide. ### [Tarzan Recovers His Reason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xxii-tarzan-recovers-his-reason) Captured by Tarzan and later taken prisoner by Abyssinian soldiers; participates in Tarzan's ruse involving a fake language. ### [Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/chapters/xxiv-home) His remains are found with the jewels of Opar; his past actions are discussed and partially redeemed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters/albert_werper - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tarzan_and_the_jewels_of_opar_se/characters