Diogenes

Sir Percy Blakeney

Diogenes and Sir Percy are allies and friends, sharing a sense of adventure and mutual respect despite their different backgrounds.

Gilda Beresteyn

Diogenes and Gilda share a growing romantic tension, marked by attraction and conflict due to their opposing loyalties.

Willem

Diogenes and Willem are friends and occasional co-conspirators, bound by a sense of honor and adventure.

Nicolaes Beresteyn

Diogenes and Nicolaes are antagonists, clashing over Gilda's affections and political allegiances.

Frans Hals

Diogenes and Frans Hals are friends, with Frans often providing a sympathetic ear and practical help to Diogenes.

Pythagoras

Diogenes and Pythagoras are close companions and fellow adventurers, sharing a loyal and humorous bond.

Mynheer Ben Isaje

Diogenes and Mynheer Ben Isaje are adversaries, with Ben Isaje often opposing Diogenes's actions.

Maria

Diogenes and Maria are acquaintances, with Maria likely being a servant or family member in the Beresteyn household.

Sir Percy Blakeney

Diogenes and Sir Percy are allies and friends, sharing a sense of adventure and mutual respect despite their different backgrounds.

Frans Hals

Diogenes and Frans Hals are friends, with Frans often providing a sympathetic ear and practical help to Diogenes.

Gilda Beresteyn

Diogenes and Gilda share a growing romantic tension, marked by attraction and conflict due to their opposing loyalties.

Willem

Diogenes and Willem are friends and occasional co-conspirators, bound by a sense of honor and adventure.

An Apology

The Laughing Cavalier, whose portrait by Frans Hals is the subject of the monograph; he is identified as the direct ancestor of Sir Percy Blakeney.

The Laughing Cavalier

Introduced as the Laughing Cavalier, a roguish and charismatic figure.

I: New Year’s Eve

Leader of the three philosophers; tall, broad, and quick to investigate the fracas by the postern gate.

II: The Fracas by the Postern Gate

Leads the intervention against the mob, using wit and a torch to disperse the crowd.

III: An Interlude

Carries wounded Socrates, speaks gallantly to the lady but refuses her offer of help, prioritizing their thirst and journey to the Lame Cow.

Watch-Night

Mentioned in Gilda's thoughts as the knavish malapert who imprinted a kiss on her hand and then refused her offer.

Three Philosophers and Their Friends

Leads his companions out of the Lame Cow with swagger, engages in a philosophical debate about independence, and declares his intention to be free from patronage for twenty-four hours.

VIII: The Lodgings Which Were Paid For

Gives up his lodgings to the rescued woman and her father, plans to stay with Frans Hals, and boasts of his portrait being painted as a Laughing Cavalier.

IX: The Painter of Pictures

Spends a cold night after giving up his bed, then goes to Frans Hals's studio for breakfast and to pose for a painting.

X: The Laughing Cavalier

Posing for Frans Hals's portrait; engages in private conversation with Nicolaes Beresteyn about a conspiracy.

XI: The Bargain

Accepts the bargain to abduct Gilda Beresteyn for 4,000 guilders, negotiates terms, and demands an advance of 500 guilders.

The Portrait

Views Gilda's portrait, recognizes her from the previous night, and struggles with his role as a hired rogue.

XIII: The Spanish Wench

Plans the journey and recruits the Spanish wench to help waylay Gilda.

XVI: Leyden

Arranges lodging in Leyden, carries Gilda, and shows pity for her plight despite her contempt.

An Understanding

Reveals his orders to take Gilda to Rotterdam, realizes Stoutenburg's conspiracy, and remains unmoved by her pleas, bound by his word of honor.

The Start

Departs alone at night, skates toward Haarlem to redeem a promise to Frans Hals; reflects on his encounter with Gilda.

In the Kingdom of the Night

The solitary skater racing the moon across the ice, exulting in the night but ultimately trapped by darkness.

Back Again in Haarlem

Returns to Haarlem after a night of waiting, poses for Frans Hals, and feigns ignorance about Gilda's abduction while secretly pleased that suspicion has fallen on the sea-wolves.

A Grief-Stricken Father

Swaggers into the Lame Cow with Frans Hals, eats and drinks heartily using Nicolaes' money, and audaciously toasts the Beresteyn family, angering Nicolaes.

A Double Pledge

Accepts the mission to rescue Gilda with imperturbable calm, refuses advance payment, and later laughs uncontrollably at the situation.

XXIII: A Spy from the Camp

Referred to as the knave who abducted Gilda; Stoutenburg and Beresteyn suspect he has hidden her for ransom.

The Birth of Hate

Intervenes to protect the Spanish girl from Stoutenburg; reveals he knows Stoutenburg's identity and spares him.

XXV: An Arrant Knave

Referenced as the 'arrant knave' whom Stoutenburg and Beresteyn plot to capture; he is to be kept alive and tracked by Jan.

Back to Houdekerk

Returns to the mill after his journey, exhausted and preoccupied with the problem of how to fulfill his pledge to Nicolaes without betraying Gilda.

Thence to Rotterdam

Arranges the journey, rides behind the sledge, and later forces entry into Ben Isaje's house in Rotterdam.

Check

Delivers Beresteyn's letter to Ben Isaje, plans to rescue Gilda, but faces obstacles from the Jew's guards.

Check Again

Escorts Gilda, humorously carries Maria, and attempts to collect payment from Ben Isaje, but agrees to wait until morning.

A Nocturne

Kneels before Gilda in a moment of chivalry, then resists her pleas and money, insisting on knowing her secret purpose.

The Captive Lion

Captured and tied to a beam in the basement, remains defiant and ironic, taunting Stoutenburg despite his helpless position.

XXXIV: Protestations

The foreign mercenary held prisoner by Stoutenburg; he is to be brought before Gilda for questioning.

The Witness for the Defence

Brought before Gilda as a prisoner, wounded but maintaining a mocking and philosophical demeanor; confesses to the abduction to vindicate Stoutenburg and Nicolaes.

XXXVI: Brother Philosophers

Bound to a beam, wounded and awaiting execution, but maintains a cheerful demeanor, earning the nickname 'The Laughing Cavalier'.

Dawn

Awake and watching the gibbet being prepared; faces death with a lazy, good-humored smile, musing on his unspoken love for Gilda.

The Hour

The condemned philosopher, facing death with humor and dignity, sends a final message to Frans Hals.

XXXIX: “Sauve Qui Peut”

The prisoner, bound and guarded, laughs at the chaos and remains triumphant despite his predicament.

XL: The Loser Pays

Mentioned as the prisoner whom Stoutenburg has condemned to hang, believed to have warned the Prince of Orange.

XLII: The Fight in the Doorway

Confronts and disarms Stoutenburg, spares his life for Gilda's sake, and locks Beresteyn inside the hut.

XLIII: Leyden Once More

Diogenes is overheard in conversation with Cornelius Beresteyn, refusing a fortune and asserting his desire to remain a free, penniless soldier of fortune. He plans to leave at daybreak.

XLIV: Blake of Blakeney

Reveals his father is Blake of Blakeney, refuses Cornelius Beresteyn's offer to seek him out, and speaks of his mother's death and his father's abandonment.

The End

Sits in the tapperij, lost in melancholy, then is summoned to Gilda's room where he declares his love.