# Nicolaes Beresteyn — The Laughing Cavalier character guide > Nicolaes Beresteyn in The Laughing Cavalier by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mynheer Beresteyn, Nicolaes, Mynheer Nicolaes Beresteyn of Haarlem **First appearance:** 0003-i-new-year-s-eve ## Snapshot Gilda's brother, a wealthy Haarlem patrician whose easy condescension masks a callous willingness to trade his own sister's freedom. ## Who they are Nicolaes Beresteyn moves through taverns and studios with the gracious air of a man whose father patronizes Frans Hals and whose name opens doors. Yet beneath that complaisance lies something colder: he commissions Gilda's abduction himself, then presents himself as the grieving brother rallying Haarlem to her rescue. His double game—public outrage, private scheming—makes him a quietly treacherous presence in the early arc, and his broken bones conveniently keep him from leading the pursuit he helped orchestrate. ## Relationships ### [Gilda Beresteyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/gilda_beresteyn) _family_ Gilda and Nicolaes are brother and sister, with Nicolaes often protective but also controlling toward Gilda. ### [Willem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/willem) _family_ Nicolaes and Willem are brothers, with a complex relationship involving rivalry and shared family burdens. ### [Diogenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/diogenes) _rivalry_ Diogenes and Nicolaes are antagonists, clashing over Gilda's affections and political allegiances. ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Nicolaes and Sir Percy are political rivals, with Sir Percy opposing Nicolaes's schemes. ### [Frans Hals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/frans_hals) _professional_ Frans Hals and Nicolaes have a professional connection, likely involving art commissions or patronage. ### [Stoutenburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/stoutenburg) _rivalry_ Nicolaes and Stoutenburg are enemies, with Stoutenburg manipulating events against Nicolaes's family. ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Nicolaes and Sir Percy are political rivals, with Sir Percy opposing Nicolaes's schemes. ### [Willem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/willem) _family_ Nicolaes and Willem are brothers, with a complex relationship involving rivalry and shared family burdens. ### [Frans Hals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/frans_hals) _professional_ Frans Hals and Nicolaes have a professional connection, likely involving art commissions or patronage. ### [Gilda Beresteyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/gilda_beresteyn) _family_ Gilda and Nicolaes are brother and sister, with Nicolaes often protective but also controlling toward Gilda. ### [Diogenes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/diogenes) _rivalry_ Diogenes and Nicolaes are antagonists, clashing over Gilda's affections and political allegiances. ### [Willem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/willem) _family_ Nicolaes and Willem are brothers, with a complex relationship involving rivalry and shared family burdens. ## In the story ### [The Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/the-prologue) Mentioned as Stoutenburg's former friend and Gilda's brother; Stoutenburg hopes for his help, but Gilda warns he cannot be counted on. ### [I: New Year’s Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/i-new-year-s-eve) A wealthy councillor and tulip enthusiast; boasts of paying 15,000 florins for a new hybrid bulb. ### [Watch-Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/iv-watch-night) Participates in the conspiracy, expressing bitterness toward his father's loyalty to the Stadtholder and pledging loyalty to Stoutenburg. ### [Brother and Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/v-brother-and-sister) Defends his involvement in the conspiracy, struggles with his sister's defiance, and ultimately decides to trust her silence. ### [VI: The Counsels of Prudence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/vi-the-counsels-of-prudence) Beresteyn is torn between his affection for his sister and his fear of the conspiracy being exposed. He is swayed by Stoutenburg's arguments and begins to consider how to silence Gilda. ### [Three Philosophers and Their Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/vii-three-philosophers-and-their-friends) Engages Diogenes in conversation, showing unusual civility and restraint despite Diogenes' insolence, and offers patronage which Diogenes refuses. ### [VIII: The Lodgings Which Were Paid For](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/viii-the-lodgings-which-were-paid-for) Watches the scene with Stoutenburg from a distance, does not intervene despite being able to help. ### [IX: The Painter of Pictures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/ix-the-painter-of-pictures) Agrees to sacrifice his sister Gilda for the conspiracy, believing he is acting for his country and faith. ### [X: The Laughing Cavalier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/x-the-laughing-cavalier) Visits Frans Hals's studio to commission a portrait and to recruit Diogenes for a secret mission. ### [XI: The Bargain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xi-the-bargain) Proposes the abduction of his sister Gilda, arranges the payment and route, and reluctantly agrees to Diogenes' terms. ### [The Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xii-the-portrait) Shows Diogenes the portrait of his sister and takes his leave, treating Diogenes as an equal. ### [After Evensong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xiv-after-evensong) Gilda's brother, whose involvement in the conspiracy weighs on her conscience. ### [The Halt at Bennebrock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xv-the-halt-at-bennebrock) Gilda mistakenly believes Nicolaes is only blindly acquiescent, not directly responsible for her abduction. ### [An Understanding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xvii-an-understanding) Implied as Stoutenburg's accomplice who callously sacrificed his sister; Diogenes recalls their earlier interview in Frans Hals' studio. ### [Back Again in Haarlem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xx-back-again-in-haarlem) Mentioned as raising a company of Waardgelders to pursue the brigands and commanding the expedition to rescue his sister. ### [A Grief-Stricken Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxi-a-grief-stricken-father) Leads the initial pursuit but injures his arm in a fall; returns to Haarlem and joins his father at the Lame Cow, offering advice and money for the expedition. ### [XXIII: A Spy from the Camp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxiii-a-spy-from-the-camp) Furious and anxious about Gilda's fate; confronts Stoutenburg about Diogenes's betrayal and the danger to their conspiracy. ### [The Birth of Hate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxiv-the-birth-of-hate) Mentioned as having parted with Stoutenburg and Jan to go to the Lame Cow. ### [XXV: An Arrant Knave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxv-an-arrant-knave) Consults with Stoutenburg about the incriminating papers in Diogenes' possession and agrees to trust Stoutenburg's plan to capture Diogenes and secure Gilda. ### [Back to Houdekerk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxvi-back-to-houdekerk) Referenced in Diogenes' thoughts as the man to whom he gave his word to bring Gilda back safely. ### [Check](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxviii-check) Author of the letter instructing Ben Isaje to keep Gilda as a prisoner and pay Diogenes. ### [A Nocturne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxx-a-nocturne) Mentioned as Gilda's brother, but not present in the chapter. ### [XXXI: The Molens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxi-the-molens) Torn by remorse but dominated by Stoutenburg's will, he writes the letter to Ben Isaje and agrees to the scheme. ### [The Captive Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-captive-lion) Sits sullen and anxious in the weighing-room, groans at the situation, and restrains Stoutenburg from further striking the prisoner. ### [XXXIV: Protestations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxiv-protestations) Mentioned as having refused to accompany Stoutenburg, afraid to face his sister; his possible complicity in the abduction is discussed. ### [The Witness for the Defence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxv-the-witness-for-the-defence) Implicated by the forged bond that Stoutenburg presents; Diogenes' confession clears him of involvement in the abduction. ### [Dawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxvii-dawn) One of the chosen lieutenants who will send the wooden bridge flying; mentioned among the conspirators. ### [The Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-hour) Visits Diogenes to thank him but is too cowardly to confess his guilt to Gilda or stop the execution. ### [XL: The Loser Pays](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xl-the-loser-pays) Terrified and trembling, he prepares to flee and insists Gilda must come with them, though he regards her with hatred. ### [XLI: “Vengeance Is Mine”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xli-vengeance-is-mine) Briefly mentioned among Stoutenburg's friends who are making ready for flight after the conspiracy collapses. ### [XLII: The Fight in the Doorway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xlii-the-fight-in-the-doorway) Witnesses the fight, is confronted by Diogenes about his loyalty to Gilda, and is locked in the hut. ### [XLIII: Leyden Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xliii-leyden-once-more) Nicolaes accompanies Gilda back to Leyden, showing gentleness and remorse. He sends a messenger to their father and dreads the meeting with him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters/nicolaes_beresteyn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/characters