# Royal Loftus — The Perfume of Eros character guide > Royal Loftus in The Perfume of Eros by Edgar Saltus. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Loftus, Mr. Royal Loftus **First appearance:** 0002-ii-the-pocket-venus ## Snapshot A man of rigid manners and hidden habits who corrects a companion's fork and vocabulary, then asks her if she believes in God. ## Who they are Loftus moves through the same fashionable rooms as Annandale and Orr, but his authority is personal and exacting. In Gramercy Park he instructs Marie on forks, forbids the word 'elegant,' and confesses his nightly habit of sitting alone under the stars. His blend of fastidiousness and strange intimacy makes him a disruptive, unsettling presence in the social order. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/mrs_price) _psychological_ Mrs. Price and Royal Loftus share a complex, possibly manipulative dynamic, with Mrs. Price exerting influence over Royal. ### [Marie Durand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/marie_durand) _romantic_ Marie and Royal share a romantic relationship, possibly secretive or intense, given their significant interaction count. ### [Arthur Annandale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/arthur_annandale) _rivalry_ Arthur and Royal are competitors, likely over Sylvia or social standing, with mutual distrust and hostility. ### [Melanchthon Orr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/melanchthon_orr) _rivalry_ Melanchthon and Royal are bitter rivals, clashing over Sylvia and other ambitions, with frequent confrontations. ### [Sylvia Waldron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/sylvia_waldron) _romantic_ Royal is also romantically interested in Sylvia, creating a love triangle with Melanchthon and Arthur. ### [Lady Cloden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/lady_cloden) _social_ Lady Cloden and Royal are social acquaintances, likely moving in the same high-society circles. ### [Mrs. Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/mrs_price) _psychological_ Mrs. Price and Royal Loftus share a complex, possibly manipulative dynamic, with Mrs. Price exerting influence over Royal. ### [Mrs. Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/mrs_price) _psychological_ Mrs. Price and Royal Loftus share a complex, possibly manipulative dynamic, with Mrs. Price exerting influence over Royal. ### [Melanchthon Orr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/melanchthon_orr) _rivalry_ Melanchthon and Royal are bitter rivals, clashing over Sylvia and other ambitions, with frequent confrontations. ### [Marie Durand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/marie_durand) _romantic_ Marie and Royal share a romantic relationship, possibly secretive or intense, given their significant interaction count. ### [Arthur Annandale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/arthur_annandale) _rivalry_ Arthur and Royal are competitors, likely over Sylvia or social standing, with mutual distrust and hostility. ### [Melanchthon Orr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/melanchthon_orr) _rivalry_ Melanchthon and Royal are bitter rivals, clashing over Sylvia and other ambitions, with frequent confrontations. ## In the story ### [The Facts in the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/the-facts-in-the-case) Central figure whose murder is the focus of the case. ### [I: A Man of Fashion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/i-a-man-of-fashion) The protagonist, a wealthy, handsome man of fashion, contemplating his romantic interests and social standing. ### [II: The Pocket Venus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ii-the-pocket-venus) Joins the table at Sherry's, sits next to Fanny, flirts with her and makes a gallant remark to Sylvia. ### [The Ex-First Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/iii-the-ex-first-lady) Reflects on his pursuit of Marie Durand, finding her more reasonable than Fanny. He orchestrates an introduction through Mme. Machin and declares his love. ### [Enchantment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/iv-enchantment) Arrives at Mme. Machin's den, pays her, and plays the piano while waiting for Marie. He professes his love and asks Marie to be his wife, using persuasive and manipulative language to overcome her objections. ### [V: Marie Changes Her Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/v-marie-changes-her-name) Loftus secures quarters for Marie, insists on her name change, and brings male acquaintances to her apartment, while hiding his deception. ### [Two in a Turret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/viii-two-in-a-turret) Reported to be abroad with Marie Leroy, the object of Fanny's hidden affection. ### [IX: Fanny Changes Her Clothes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ix-fanny-changes-her-clothes) Loftus is mentioned as the man Fanny truly loved, but he sailed away and did not care for her. ### [I: Disenchantment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/i-disenchantment) Loftus is revealed as a cad who has deceived Marie with false promises of marriage. He is seen driving with Mrs. Annandale, and his excuses for delaying the marriage are exposed as lies. ### [II: The Mote in the Eye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ii-the-mote-in-the-eye) Still involved with Fanny, he visits her and discusses the possibility of her divorcing Annandale. He has been selling short in the stock market. ### [III: The Gates of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/iii-the-gates-of-life) Arrives late, coldly suggests Marie go abroad, and admits he no longer intends to marry her. He offers her money as a parting gift, which she throws away. ### [The Return of the Yellow Fay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/iv-the-return-of-the-yellow-fay) Appears at Fanny's dinner party, discusses the market crash, and reveals he has sent away his mistress, Marie, at Fanny's command. ### [VI: What the Papers Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/vi-what-the-papers-said) Murdered; the press and family react to his death, with theories of suicide or robbery. ### [IX: The Twelfth Juror](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/chapters/ix-the-twelfth-juror) The murder victim, whose death is the subject of the trial. His picture is found on the juror, identifying him as the target of the juror's revenge. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters/royal_loftus - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_perfume_of_eros_se/characters