# Jan Tiele — The Laughing Cavalier character guide

> Jan Tiele in The Laughing Cavalier by Baroness Orczy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jan

**First appearance:** 0003-i-new-year-s-eve

## Snapshot

A shadowy henchman in Stoutenburg's orbit, one of the accomplices whose treachery helped unravel the conspiracy against the Stadtholder.

## Who they are

Jan Tiele belongs to the circle of would-be assassins whose plans collapsed under torture and betrayal, leaving Groeneveld condemned and Stoutenburg a wanderer. He moves at the edges of the plot, a name bound up with the aborted conspiracy that casts its gloom over Haarlem and Gilda's household. His presence reminds the reader that the intrigue reaching for Gilda is not petty crime but the wreckage of a failed political murder, and that its survivors are dangerous men with nothing left to lose.

## In the story

### [II: The Fracas by the Postern Gate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/ii-the-fracas-by-the-postern-gate)

Aggressor whose nose is flattened by Pythagoras on Diogenes' orders.

### [XXIII: A Spy from the Camp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxiii-a-spy-from-the-camp)

Exhausted spy who brings news from the Stadtholder's camp; loyal to Stoutenburg due to his father's execution.

### [The Birth of Hate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxiv-the-birth-of-hate)

Mentioned as accompanying Beresteyn to the Lame Cow.

### [XXV: An Arrant Knave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxv-an-arrant-knave)

Receives orders from Stoutenburg to track Diogenes, seize him if he turns back toward Haarlem, and treat Gilda with respect as Stoutenburg's future wife.

### [XXXI: The Molens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxi-the-molens)

Receives orders to lead a dozen men to Rotterdam, deliver the letter to Ben Isaje, and bring Gilda back.

### [The Captive Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-captive-lion)

Reports the capture of Gilda and Diogenes, describes the fight, and follows orders to guard the prisoner.

### [XXXIV: Protestations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxiv-protestations)

Sent by Stoutenburg to fetch the prisoner from the molens.

### [The Witness for the Defence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxv-the-witness-for-the-defence)

Enters with Stoutenburg and the soldiers, then departs on command.

### [XXXVI: Brother Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxvi-brother-philosophers)

The captain overseeing the camp and the prisoner, suspicious of the philosophers' presence but ultimately allowing them a brief conversation.

### [Dawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxvii-dawn)

Oversees the erection of the gibbet and guards the prisoner; obeys Stoutenburg's orders without question.

### [The Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-hour)

Leads the soldiers and oversees the preparations for Diogenes' execution, following Stoutenburg's orders.

### [XXXIX: “Sauve Qui Peut”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxix-sauve-qui-peut)

Jan stays at his post guarding the prisoner, adjusting the rope on the gibbet, and tries to maintain order as others flee.

### [XL: The Loser Pays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xl-the-loser-pays)

Mentioned as having captured Diogenes on his way back to Rotterdam and as preparing the gibbet.

### [XLI: “Vengeance Is Mine”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xli-vengeance-is-mine)

Found bound and gagged near the gallows; reports that he and Piet were overpowered by two of the prisoner's friends, who cut the prisoner free.

### [XLII: The Fight in the Doorway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xlii-the-fight-in-the-doorway)

Found crawling to assist Stoutenburg, later disarmed and ordered to take his master to safety.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/jan_tiele
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters