# Véronique d'Hergemont — The Secret of Sarek character guide > Véronique d'Hergemont in The Secret of Sarek by Maurice Leblanc. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Véronique, Madame Véronique, Madame d'Hergemont, Death **First appearance:** 0001-the-secret-of-sarek ## Snapshot A dressmaker who survived fourteen years of grief and convent walls, Véronique returns to the reefs of Sarek to find the son she was told was dead. ## Who they are Véronique arrives on Sarek disguised behind a doubled veil, having spent years rebuilding a quiet life in Besançon after a marriage to a man she both feared and obeyed. Her remorse is not for a crime but for a punishment she believes she earned, and that guilt shadows every hope of reunion. As she steps onto the island's treacherous rocks, she becomes the story's central lens: a mother testing whether happiness can still be claimed after so much was taken. ## Relationships ### [François Vorski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/francois_vorski) _rivalry_ Vorski relentlessly pursues and torments Véronique, driven by obsession and a desire for control. ### [Madame Honorine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/madame_honorine) _friendship_ Madame Honorine is a loyal and protective companion to Véronique, acting as a maternal figure. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/grandfather) _family_ Grandfather is Véronique's paternal figure, providing guidance and protection. ### [Master All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/master_all) _friendship_ Master All is a trusted ally and friend to Véronique, aiding her in her struggles. ### [Don Luis Perenna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/don_luis_perenna) _friendship_ Don Luis Perenna is a protective ally to Véronique, working to rescue and defend her. ### [Maguennoc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/maguennoc) _friendship_ Maguennoc is a wise and helpful figure to Véronique, sharing knowledge and support. ### [Sarek, Prince of Sarek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/sarek_prince_of_sarek) _romantic_ Prince Sarek is a mysterious suitor with a deep, fated romantic connection to Véronique. ### [François Vorski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/francois_vorski) _rivalry_ Vorski relentlessly pursues and torments Véronique, driven by obsession and a desire for control. ### [François Vorski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/francois_vorski) _rivalry_ Vorski relentlessly pursues and torments Véronique, driven by obsession and a desire for control. ### [Madame Honorine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/madame_honorine) _friendship_ Madame Honorine is a loyal and protective companion to Véronique, acting as a maternal figure. ### [Madame Honorine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/madame_honorine) _friendship_ Madame Honorine is a loyal and protective companion to Véronique, acting as a maternal figure. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/grandfather) _family_ Grandfather is Véronique's paternal figure, providing guidance and protection. ## In the story ### [The Secret of Sarek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/the-secret-of-sarek) Continues her investigation on Sarek, uncovering secrets about the prophecy and the Vorski family. ### [The Deserted Cabin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/i-the-deserted-cabin) Protagonist who investigates the mysterious cabin and discovers a dead body. ### [II: On the Edge of the Atlantic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/ii-on-the-edge-of-the-atlantic) Follows the trail of inscriptions to Beg-Meil, meets Honorine, and insists on going to the Isle of Sarek to find her son. ### [III: Vorski's Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/iii-vorski-s-son) Arrives on Sarek with hope to reunite with her son, but witnesses his murder of her father and Honorine; receives a deathbed warning from her father. ### [IV: The Poor People of Sarek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/iv-the-poor-people-of-sarek) Grieves over her father's murder and struggles with the revelation that her son François is Vorski's son. She tends to Honorine and is left alone on the island. ### [Four Women Crucified](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/v-four-women-crucified) Alone on Coffin Island, she experiences a mix of horror and peace, explores the island, and rescues the Archignat sisters. ### [All's Well](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/vi-all-s-well) Overcome by horror and superstition, she nearly succumbs to starvation but is rescued by All's Well. She discovers François's imprisonment and reveals her identity to him. ### [VII: François and Stéphane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/vii-fran-ois-and-st-phane) Frees Stéphane and reunites with François, planning their escape. ### [VIII: Anguish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/viii-anguish) Tells Stéphane her story, tries to stay calm and plan their escape, hides when the enemy approaches. ### [IX: The Death-Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/ix-the-death-chamber) Trapped in the death chamber with Stéphane, she is rescued by a boy she initially thinks is François but discovers is the evil son of Vorski. She threatens him with a revolver after he attacks Stéphane. ### [X: The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/x-the-escape) Rescues François from the cell, confronts Vorski's mistress, and flees with her son. ### [XI: The Scourge of God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xi-the-scourge-of-god) Defiantly refuses Vorski's ultimatum, choosing death over submission. ### [XII: The Ascent of Golgotha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xii-the-ascent-of-golgotha) Bound, blindfolded, and carried on a stretcher; believes François is dead; prays and faints during the duel. ### [XIII: “Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xiii-eloi-eloi-lama-sabachthani) Véronique is the victim in her death-agony, with Vorski proclaiming her dead after she cries out 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' ### [XIV: The Ancient Druid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xiv-the-ancient-druid) Mentioned by the Druid as the sleeping Velléda on the sacrificial stone, awaiting awakening. ### [XVI: The Hall of the Kings of Bohemia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xvi-the-hall-of-the-kings-of-bohemia) Mentioned as Vorski's second wife, kidnapped and sought by Vorski. ### [Cruel Prince, Obeying Destiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xvii-cruel-prince-obeying-destiny) The intended victim who was substituted by Elfride; her martyrdom is central to the prophecy's fulfillment. ### [The God-Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/chapters/xviii-the-god-stone) Recovering in the garden at Arcachon, she is grateful to Don Luis and Stéphane, and is determined to keep François ignorant of his father's identity. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters/veronique_d_hergemont - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_of_sarek_se/characters