# Laura Douviers — The Counterfeiters character guide > Laura Douviers in The Counterfeiters by André Gide. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Laura, Douviers, the Douviers **First appearance:** 0010-viii-edouard-and-laura ## Snapshot A young woman who left her husband for Vincent and now turns to Edouard for help with the child she is carrying. ## Who they are Laura arrives in Paris pregnant, penniless, and abandoned by the lover she followed there, and Edouard's quiet assistance becomes her lifeline. Her husband Douviers, an excellent if unremarkable man, will raise the child as his own — a resolution Edouard finds tidy but which Bernard, who adores Laura, cannot hear discussed so coolly. She is the thread that ties Bernard, Edouard, and Vincent together, and her predicament exposes how differently each man responds to a woman in need. ## Relationships ### [Bernard Profitendieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/bernard_profitendieu) _friendship_ Bernard helps Laura in her time of need, forming a supportive and chaste friendship. ### [Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/edouard) _romantic_ Edouard and Laura share a past romantic attachment and a lingering, tender affection despite her marriage. ### [Vincent Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/vincent_molinier) _romantic_ Laura had a brief, secret affair with Vincent, which left her pregnant and abandoned. ### [Bernard Profitendieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/bernard_profitendieu) _friendship_ Bernard helps Laura in her time of need, forming a supportive and chaste friendship. ### [Vincent Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/vincent_molinier) _romantic_ Laura had a brief, secret affair with Vincent, which left her pregnant and abandoned. ### [Bernard Profitendieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/bernard_profitendieu) _friendship_ Bernard helps Laura in her time of need, forming a supportive and chaste friendship. ### [Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/edouard) _romantic_ Edouard and Laura share a past romantic attachment and a lingering, tender affection despite her marriage. ### [Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/edouard) _romantic_ Edouard and Laura share a past romantic attachment and a lingering, tender affection despite her marriage. ### [Vincent Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/vincent_molinier) _romantic_ Laura had a brief, secret affair with Vincent, which left her pregnant and abandoned. ## In the story ### [Part I: Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/part-i-paris) Pregnant and abandoned by Vincent, she seeks help from Edouard. ### [Vincent and the Comte de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iv-vincent-and-the-comte-de-passavant) Mentioned as the woman Vincent has gotten pregnant and abandoned; she waited for him in vain. ### [Vincent Meets Passavant at Lady Griffith’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/v-vincent-meets-passavant-at-lady-griffith-s) Mentioned as Vincent's former mistress who is pregnant and has been abandoned; she is weeping in her hotel room. ### [VII: Lilian and Vincent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vii-lilian-and-vincent) Referenced as the woman Vincent has abandoned; Lilian accuses Vincent of being disgusted with himself for chucking Laura. ### [VIII: Edouard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/viii-edouard-and-laura) Writes a desperate letter to Edouard confessing her pregnancy by another man and Vincent's abandonment. ### [X: The Cloakroom Ticket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/x-the-cloakroom-ticket) Her letter is found in Edouard's notebook inside the suitcase. ### [Edouard's Journal: Laura's Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xii-edouard-s-journal-laura-s-wedding) Subject of the wedding; Edouard reflects on her devotion and transposition of love onto Douviers. ### [XIV: Bernard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiv-bernard-and-laura) Abandoned by Vincent, waiting in a modest hotel; meets Bernard and later Edouard, breaks down in tears, and asks Edouard to take her away. ### [XVI: Vincent and Lilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xvi-vincent-and-lilian) Laura is mentioned as having rejected Vincent's belated payment with the note 'Too late,' indicating her despair. ### [XVIII: Edouard’s Journal: Second Visit to La Pérouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xviii-edouard-s-journal-second-visit-to-la-p-rouse) Edouard visits her after recovering his suitcase. ### [Part II: Saas-Fée](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/part-ii-saas-f-e) Staying in Saas-Fée, emotionally distressed and seeking support from Edouard. ### [From Bernard to Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/i-from-bernard-to-olivier) The pregnant woman abandoned by Vincent; she travels with Edouard and Bernard to Switzerland, and Bernard develops deep respect and affection for her. ### [II: Edouard's Journal: Little Boris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/ii-edouard-s-journal-little-boris) Introduced to Sophroniska by Edouard; the two women seem to get along. ### [III: Edouard Explains His Theory of the Novel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iii-edouard-explains-his-theory-of-the-novel) Feels uncomfortable in her dependent situation with Edouard, suffering from unrequited love and self-reproach; finds comfort in her role as a mentor to Bernard. ### [Bernard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iv-bernard-and-laura) Decides to return to her husband Douviers after confessing everything; shares her feelings about Edouard and gives Bernard advice. ### [Edouard's Journal: Conversation with Sophroniska](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/v-edouard-s-journal-conversation-with-sophroniska) Referenced in connection with her parents and the boarding school; Edouard mentions her criticism of his mysticism. ### [II: Edouard’s Journal: At the Vedels’](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/ii-edouard-s-journal-at-the-vedels) Mentioned as having confided in Azaïs about her pregnancy; subject of Armand's scorn. ### [Olivier and Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/ix-olivier-and-edouard) Mentioned in Bernard's memory of her words at Saas-Fée. ### [X: Olivier’s Convalescence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/x-olivier-s-convalescence) Writes to Edouard begging him to dissuade her husband Felix from challenging the man who impregnated her. ### [XIII: Edouard’s Journal: Douviers’ Profitendieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiii-edouard-s-journal-douviers-profitendieu) Mentioned; Douviers’ jealousy diminishes when he no longer feels her eyes upon him, and she has returned to him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters