# Gilbert — The Crystal Stopper character guide > Gilbert in The Crystal Stopper by Maurice Leblanc. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Gilbert, Gilbert's **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-arrests ## Snapshot A charming, reckless young burglar, born Antoine Mergy, who is devoted to Lupin and now sits in prison waiting to be executed for a murder he did not commit. ## Who they are Gilbert is the boy Daubrecq stole from his parents and trained toward the scaffold, and the boy Lupin took on afterward and could not quite save. He is frank, funny, careless with his life, and utterly loyal — he would die at a sign from his master, and the law intends to make him do exactly that. His imprisonment forces Lupin into the open and turns a burglary gone wrong into a race against a fixed execution date. ## Relationships ### [Arsène Lupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/arsene_lupin) _psychological_ Lupin feels a deep sense of responsibility and protective obsession toward Gilbert, who is both a pawn and a hostage in Lupin's schemes. ### [Clarisse Mergy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/clarisse_mergy) _family_ Clarisse is Gilbert's mother, and her every action is driven by a desperate, maternal love to save him from execution. ### [Vaucheray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/vaucheray) _friendship_ Gilbert and Vaucheray are fellow criminals and friends, but their loyalty is tested under the pressure of a death sentence. ### [Prasville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/prasville) _rivalry_ Gilbert is a condemned prisoner facing Prasville, who represents the judicial system seeking his execution. ### [Alexis Daubrecq](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/alexis_daubrecq) _psychological_ Daubrecq holds Gilbert's life in his hands, using the threat of execution to manipulate both Gilbert and his mother. ### [Arsène Lupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/arsene_lupin) _psychological_ Lupin feels a deep sense of responsibility and protective obsession toward Gilbert, who is both a pawn and a hostage in Lupin's schemes. ### [Clarisse Mergy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/clarisse_mergy) _family_ Clarisse is Gilbert's mother, and her every action is driven by a desperate, maternal love to save him from execution. ### [Arsène Lupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/arsene_lupin) _psychological_ Lupin feels a deep sense of responsibility and protective obsession toward Gilbert, who is both a pawn and a hostage in Lupin's schemes. ### [Prasville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/prasville) _rivalry_ Gilbert is a condemned prisoner facing Prasville, who represents the judicial system seeking his execution. ### [Vaucheray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/vaucheray) _friendship_ Gilbert and Vaucheray are fellow criminals and friends, but their loyalty is tested under the pressure of a death sentence. ### [Vaucheray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/vaucheray) _friendship_ Gilbert and Vaucheray are fellow criminals and friends, but their loyalty is tested under the pressure of a death sentence. ### [Prasville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/prasville) _rivalry_ Gilbert is a condemned prisoner facing Prasville, who represents the judicial system seeking his execution. ## In the story ### [The Arrests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/i-the-arrests) Accomplice in the burglary; arrested after a struggle with Lupin and Vaucheray. ### [II: Eight from Nine Leaves One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/ii-eight-from-nine-leaves-one) Mentioned as a trusted accomplice in prison, suspected of betrayal. ### [The Home Life of Alexis Daubrecq](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/iii-the-home-life-of-alexis-daubrecq) Mentioned as facing execution if the crystal stopper is not found; Lupin uses his plight to motivate Victoire. ### [IV: The Chief of the Enemies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/iv-the-chief-of-the-enemies) Lupin pities him, facing execution; described as a devoted, cheerful young man. ### [V: The Twenty-Seven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/v-the-twenty-seven) Clarisse's son, who returned to her life ten months ago and was forgiven despite his misdeeds. ### [VI: The Death-Sentence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/vi-the-death-sentence) Sentenced to death alongside Vaucheray; he pleads for Lupin's help, crying 'Save me!' in court. ### [VII: The Profile of Napoleon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/vii-the-profile-of-napoleon) Mentioned as Lupin's motivation for continuing the climb. ### [IX: In the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/ix-in-the-dark) Condemned to death; his appeal is rejected; Lupin and Clarisse strive to save him. ### [The Cross of Lorraine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/xi-the-cross-of-lorraine) Gilbert is the young man condemned to death whom Clarisse and Lupin are trying to save through the exchange of the list. ### [XII: The Scaffold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/xii-the-scaffold) Awaiting execution, he maintains faith in Lupin and asks forgiveness from his mother. He is reprieved after the shooting. ### [The Last Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/chapters/xiii-the-last-battle) His execution is delayed by Lupin's intervention; later revealed to be farming in Algeria under his real name, Antoine Mergy. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters/gilbert - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crystal_stopper_se/characters