# Chevalier de Valois — The Jealousies of a Country Town character guide

> Chevalier de Valois in The Jealousies of a Country Town by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Chevalier de Valois, the Chevalier de Valois d'Alençon, The Chevalier de Valois, the Chevalier, M. de Valois, the gallant Chevalier, The Chevalier, the Chevalier de Valois, the ingenious Chevalier, The enchanting Chevalier, le Chevalier, Chevalier, M. le Chevalier de Valois, the sceptical M. de Valois, the Alençon Chevalier, Alençon

**First appearance:** 0000-story-i-the-old-maid

## Snapshot

A powdered, earringed relic of the old court, the Chevalier de Valois courts Mlle. Cormon's fortune with the patience of a man who has nothing else left.

## Who they are

The Chevalier is Alençon's most polished survivor: a nobleman of threadbare means whose rouge, diamonds, and enormous appetite disguise decades of gallantry and debt. He and du Bousquier circle Mlle. Cormon like rival chess players, each needing her money to prop up a dying cause. His charm is genuine, his motives are not, and his rivalry with the republican banker stages the whole town's quarrel over who will inherit the future.

## Relationships

### [Mlle. Cormon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mlle_cormon)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois is a persistent suitor to Mlle. Cormon, though his advances are more about social standing than genuine affection.

### [Suzanne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/suzanne)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois has a flirtatious and somewhat predatory relationship with the young servant Suzanne.

### [Du Bousquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/du_bousquier)

_rivalry_

The Chevalier de Valois and Du Bousquier are fierce rivals, competing for influence and Mlle. Cormon's hand.

### [Du Bousquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/du_bousquier)

_rivalry_

The Chevalier de Valois and Du Bousquier are fierce rivals, competing for influence and Mlle. Cormon's hand.

### [Mlle. Cormon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mlle_cormon)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois is a persistent suitor to Mlle. Cormon, though his advances are more about social standing than genuine affection.

### [Suzanne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/suzanne)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois has a flirtatious and somewhat predatory relationship with the young servant Suzanne.

### [Suzanne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/suzanne)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois has a flirtatious and somewhat predatory relationship with the young servant Suzanne.

### [Mlle. Cormon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mlle_cormon)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois is a persistent suitor to Mlle. Cormon, though his advances are more about social standing than genuine affection.

### [Du Bousquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/du_bousquier)

_rivalry_

The Chevalier de Valois and Du Bousquier are fierce rivals, competing for influence and Mlle. Cormon's hand.

## In the story

### [The Old Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/chapters/story-i-the-old-maid)

An aging nobleman who represents the old aristocracy and is a suitor for Mlle. Cormon's hand.

### [The Old Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/chapters/the-old-maid)

The Chevalier is introduced as a tall, lean, elderly nobleman with fine manners, a habit of dining out and playing cards, and a secret ambition to marry a rich old maid. He is discreet, witty, and has a notable snuffbox with a portrait of Princess Goritza.

### [The Collection of Antiquities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/chapters/story-ii-the-collection-of-antiquities)

An elderly nobleman and a key member of the 'Collection of Antiquities,' known for his wit and influence in Alençon society.

### [The Collection of Antiquities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/chapters/the-collection-of-antiquities)

Witnesses the Duchess's departure and laments the loss of honor; his comment about the Princess Goritza highlights his romantic nostalgia.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/chevalier_de_valois
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters