# Countess de St. Alyre — The Room in the Dragon Volant character guide > Countess de St. Alyre in The Room in the Dragon Volant by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Countess, Beautiful Countess, the Countess de St. Alyre, the Countess, Countess d’Aulnois **First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-innyard-of-the-belle-toile ## Snapshot A beautiful, unhappily married noblewoman whose whispered summons draws the narrator into a midnight meeting in the park of the Château de la Carque. ## Who they are The Countess de St. Alyre is young, lovely, and trapped in a marriage to an old, jealous, tyrannical husband who keeps her nearly friendless. Through her confidante she arranges a secret audience with the narrator at two in the morning, trusting his honour and his courage. Her loneliness and her willingness to reach for help make her the still centre around which the narrator's desire, and the plot's menace, both turn. ## In the story ### [The Room in the Dragon Volant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/the-room-in-the-dragon-volant) The object of the narrator's fascination; her presence looms over his thoughts. ### [I: On the Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/i-on-the-road) The beautiful lady in the black veil; she speaks broken English with a sweet voice and later is seen reading a letter in the inn, revealing a melancholy, lovely face. ### [II: The Innyard of the Belle Étoile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/ii-the-innyard-of-the-belle-toile) The beautiful young woman who thanks the narrator again for his assistance; appears nervous and glances toward a second door as if fearing someone. ### [III: Death and Love Together Mated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/iii-death-and-love-together-mated) Sings a chanson about death and love; her voice is described as sweet and semi-contralto, with a mocking tone. ### [IV: Monsieur Droqville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/iv-monsieur-droqville) Though not physically present, she dominates the narrator's thoughts as he gazes at her carriage and fantasizes about her identity. ### [Supper at the Belle Étoile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/v-supper-at-the-belle-toile) Mentioned as the Count's beautiful young wife; the narrator thinks of her longingly after supper. ### [The Naked Sword](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/vi-the-naked-sword) Appears in the narrator's dream as a corpse; later seen in travelling costume holding a white rose, pleading for help. ### [VII: The White Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/vii-the-white-rose) Gives the narrator a white rose as a secret token before departing in her carriage with the Count. ### [IX: Gossip and Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/ix-gossip-and-counsel) Described as very handsome, possibly unfaithful, and resisting her husband's wish to sell her diamonds. ### [X: The Black Veil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/x-the-black-veil) Glimpsed by the narrator in a barouche with her husband, prompting his reckless dash through traffic. ### [XI: The Dragon Volant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xi-the-dragon-volant) The Count's young and beautiful wife, noted for her diamonds; her life at the château is described as terrifying. ### [XII: The Magician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xii-the-magician) Mentioned as being nearby, chatting with the Duchesse d'Argensaque; the Count promises to introduce her to the narrator. ### [XIII: The Oracle Tells Me Wonders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xiii-the-oracle-tells-me-wonders) Referenced indirectly through the oracle's whispered words, which are a direct quote from her private farewell to the narrator. ### [XVI: The Parc of the Château de la Carque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xvi-the-parc-of-the-ch-teau-de-la-carque) Reveals herself after testing the narrator's loyalty; confesses her love and warns of her husband's jealousy. ### [XVIII: The Churchyard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xviii-the-churchyard) Expected at the tryst but does not arrive; the narrator follows her instructions to reach the ruinous temple. ### [XIX: The Key](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xix-the-key) Proposes a joint escape with the narrator, shows him her diamond collar, and gives him a key and instructions for their flight. ### [XX: A High-Cauld-Cap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xx-a-high-cauld-cap) Referenced as the one who gave the key and instructions; the narrator's secret is tied to her. ### [XXII: Rapture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxii-rapture) Signals the narrator with a rose-colored light, welcomes him passionately, shows her diamonds, becomes nervous, and leaves to speak with her maid. ### [A Cup of Coffee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxiii-a-cup-of-coffee) Attempts to soothe the narrator, then reveals her calculating nature after he becomes incapacitated. ### [XXIV: Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxiv-hope) Assists the Count in counting the money, shows a cold and witch-like demeanor, and seems less impatient than the Count. ### [XXV: Despair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxv-despair) The Countess admits to administering seventy drops of the drug and is told to retire. ### [XXVI: Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxvi-catastrophe) Sentenced to six years' imprisonment; revealed to be a former actress and the mastermind behind the carriage theft and the ballroom mystification. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/characters/countess_de_st_alyre - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/characters