# Fanny — The Perfume of Eros character guide

> Fanny in The Perfume of Eros by Edgar Saltus.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Marguerite, Marie, May Fanny

**First appearance:** 0003-iii-the-ex-first-lady

## Snapshot

A young Venus in Paris clothes whose charm is incandescent and whose bills are a running joke she tells better than anyone.

## Who they are

Fanny drifts between hotels, relatives, and borrowed quarters, yet arrives each season as if the city were made for her. She is Sylvia's oldest friend and foil: where Sylvia is clean and still, Fanny allures, her eyes loquacious, her voice like a kiss. Her debts, her wit, and her shifting circumstances make her the story's most unpredictable social force.

## In the story

### [The Facts in the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/the-facts-in-the-case)

Annandale's love interest, later his wife.

### [II: The Pocket Venus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ii-the-pocket-venus)

Shows off her hat, jokes about her debts and Loftus, flirts with Loftus at Sherry's.

### [The Ex-First Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/iii-the-ex-first-lady)

Mentioned as being 'ideal' but 'exacting, ambitious even' with a 'mania for matrimony' in Loftus's thoughts.

### [Sweet-and-Twenty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/vii-sweet-and-twenty)

Meets Annandale at the Casino, encourages him to stay, and discusses Sylvia's engagement.

### [Two in a Turret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/viii-two-in-a-turret)

Declines Annandale's proposal, hints at caring for Loftus, and watches a hope fade.

### [IX: Fanny Changes Her Clothes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ix-fanny-changes-her-clothes)

Fanny accepts Annandale's proposal after he rescues her clothes from the fire, though she is haunted by thoughts of Loftus.

### [X: A Victim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/x-a-victim)

Writes to Sylvia announcing her engagement to Annandale, causing Sylvia's final heartbreak.

### [II: The Mote in the Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ii-the-mote-in-the-eye)

Now married to Annandale, she lives a life of luxury but is unhappy because she still loves Loftus. She becomes elusive with her husband and hints to Mrs. Price that she may still end up with Loftus.

### [The Return of the Yellow Fay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/iv-the-return-of-the-yellow-fay)

Hosts the dinner party, questions Loftus about Marie, and tells him she will speak to Annandale about their marriage, indicating she wants to leave him.

### [V: Exit Fanny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/v-exit-fanny)

Accuses Annandale of murder and vows to testify against him in court.

### [Held Without Bail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/vii-held-without-bail)

Ill and in hiding, she dies of typhoid in July, causing Sylvia to feel guilt.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/fanny
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters