# Maria — The Laughing Cavalier character guide

> Maria in The Laughing Cavalier by Baroness Orczy.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Maria certes

**First appearance:** 0007-v-brother-and-sister

## Who they are

A servant or maid in the Beresteyn household, loyal to Gilda.

## Relationships

### [Gilda Beresteyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/gilda_beresteyn)

_family_

Gilda and Maria are likely mother and daughter, with a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family secrets.

### [Diogenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/diogenes)

_social_

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

### [Gilda Beresteyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/gilda_beresteyn)

_family_

Gilda and Maria are likely mother and daughter, with a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family secrets.

### [Diogenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/diogenes)

_social_

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

### [Gilda Beresteyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/gilda_beresteyn)

_family_

Gilda and Maria are likely mother and daughter, with a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family secrets.

### [Diogenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/diogenes)

_social_

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

## In the story

### [The Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/the-prologue)

Gilda's devoted nurse, who arranges a tray of food and is dismissed early by Gilda.

### [III: An Interlude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/iii-an-interlude)

The elderly duenna accompanying Gilda, in sober black gown and tinsel lace coif.

### [Watch-Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/iv-watch-night)

Gilda's attendant, instructed to wait outside the church with the men.

### [Brother and Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/v-brother-and-sister)

Mentioned as one of Gilda's servants waiting at the north door.

### [After Evensong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xiv-after-evensong)

Gilda's maid, abducted alongside her; fearful and moaning during the journey.

### [The Halt at Bennebrock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xv-the-halt-at-bennebrock)

Maria is present in the sleigh, snoring contentedly, providing a cover for the conspirators' whispers.

### [XVI: Leyden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xvi-leyden)

Furious at Diogenes' treatment of Gilda, she protests loudly and is carried out of the sledge by Pythagoras and Socrates.

### [An Understanding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xvii-an-understanding)

Summons Diogenes to Gilda's chamber and is ordered to retire, sailing past him with dignity.

### [Thence to Rotterdam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxvii-thence-to-rotterdam)

Accompanies Gilda in the sledge; initially resists help but accepts warmth from Pythagoras.

### [Check Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxix-check-again)

Gilda's waiting woman, carried by Diogenes despite her protests, and later accompanies Gilda into the house.

### [A Run Through the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxii-a-run-through-the-night)

Maria attends to Gilda, expressing fierce indignation and threatening vengeance against the brigands and Jews.

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

Opens the door to Stoutenburg and informs him that Gilda has broken her fast and will speak with him.

### [XLIII: Leyden Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xliii-leyden-once-more)

Maria is Gilda's servant, who is woken by Gilda and ordered to dress and summon Cornelius Beresteyn. She is described as snoring lustily and being bewildered.

### [XLIV: Blake of Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xliv-blake-of-blakeney)

Completes a hasty toilet and is sent by Gilda to deliver a message to Cornelius Beresteyn.

## Links

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