# Baptiste Mascarin — The Slaves of Paris character guide > Baptiste Mascarin in The Slaves of Paris by Émile Gaboriau. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mascarin, Baptiste, the wily Mascarin **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-caught-in-the-net ## Snapshot The respectable proprietor of a servants' registry office who has spent twenty-five years turning placement lists, pensions, and secrets into a private empire of blackmail. ## Who they are Mascarin runs his registry office in the Rue Montorgeuil with such long-standing respectability that employers and domestics alike trust him, and he has parlayed that trust into a network of information and leverage reaching into noble houses. He speaks of his associates as brothers from a garret in the Rue de la Harpe, yet he commands them coldly, telling the Marquis de Croisenois to his face that they are not honest men. His ambition is to arrange marriages, fortunes, and lives from behind his green baize curtain, and Paul Violaine is only his newest piece on the board. ## Relationships ### [Paul Violaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/paul_violaine) _psychological_ Mascarin is a master criminal who psychologically dominates and exploits Paul Violaine as a pawn in his schemes. ### [Catenac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/catenac) _professional_ Mascarin and Catenac are criminal partners, collaborating in a network of fraud and extortion. ### [Dr. Hortebise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/dr_hortebise) _professional_ Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise are co-conspirators in a criminal enterprise, using Hortebise's medical position for fraud. ### [Count Octave de Mussidan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/count_octave_de_mussidan) _professional_ Mascarin manipulates Count Octave as a client and victim in his blackmail schemes. ### [Paul Violaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/paul_violaine) _psychological_ Mascarin is a master criminal who psychologically dominates and exploits Paul Violaine as a pawn in his schemes. ### [Catenac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/catenac) _professional_ Mascarin and Catenac are criminal partners, collaborating in a network of fraud and extortion. ### [Dr. Hortebise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/dr_hortebise) _professional_ Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise are co-conspirators in a criminal enterprise, using Hortebise's medical position for fraud. ### [Dr. Hortebise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/dr_hortebise) _professional_ Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise are co-conspirators in a criminal enterprise, using Hortebise's medical position for fraud. ### [Count Octave de Mussidan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/count_octave_de_mussidan) _professional_ Mascarin manipulates Count Octave as a client and victim in his blackmail schemes. ### [Catenac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/catenac) _professional_ Mascarin and Catenac are criminal partners, collaborating in a network of fraud and extortion. ### [Paul Violaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/paul_violaine) _psychological_ Mascarin is a master criminal who psychologically dominates and exploits Paul Violaine as a pawn in his schemes. ### [Count Octave de Mussidan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/count_octave_de_mussidan) _professional_ Mascarin manipulates Count Octave as a client and victim in his blackmail schemes. ## In the story ### [Part I: Caught in the Net](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/part-i-caught-in-the-net) The mastermind behind the intricate plot, orchestrating blackmail and manipulation. ### [A Registry Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/ii-a-registry-office) Proprietor of the registry office; questions Paul about his background, displaying detailed information about his birth and annuity. ### [The Opinion of Dr. Hortebise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/iii-the-opinion-of-dr-hortebise) Leads the discussion with Hortebise, confident in manipulating Paul Violaine and planning to remove obstacles like Rose Pigoreau. ### [A Trustworthy Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/iv-a-trustworthy-servant) Arranges a meeting with Florestan to gather intelligence on the Mussidan household; plans a scheme with Hortebise to manipulate the Count and Countess regarding Sabine's marriage. ### [A Forgotten Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/v-a-forgotten-crime) Visits the Count de Mussidan to blackmail him into breaking Sabine's engagement, using the secret of Montlouis's death. ### [VI: A Medical Advisor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/vi-a-medical-advisor) Not present but referenced as the orchestrator of the scheme; waits anxiously for Hortebise's report. ### [In the Studio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/vii-in-the-studio) Referenced as the man who offered Paul a position with a salary of twelve thousand francs, setting the chapter's events in motion. ### [X: “You Are a Thief”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/x-you-are-a-thief) Mascarin works early, organizing his files and reflecting on his secret power and the risks of the Penal Code. He sends money to Croisenois and interviews a cook who brings news of Paul's troubles. ### [The Man-Milliner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xi-the-man-milliner) Leads Paul to Van Klopen's establishment, gives instructions to the tailor, and observes the heiress. ### [XIII: Husband and Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xiii-husband-and-wife) Referenced as the blackmailer whose visit plunged the Count into despair. ### [Master Chupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xv-master-chupin) Mentioned as the master who calls meetings; Tantaine goes to his office, declaring the pear is ripe. ### [A Turn of the Screw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xvi-a-turn-of-the-screw) Preoccupied with Toto Chupin's revolt and the upcoming meeting; reveals he has tracked Catenac's finances to force his cooperation. ### [Some Scraps of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xvii-some-scraps-of-paper) Reveals the history of his association, recounting a desperate moment twenty-five years ago when he found scraps of paper in a café. ### [XVIII: An Infamous Trade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xviii-an-infamous-trade) Reveals his blackmailing scheme and recruits Croisenois and Paul for his fraudulent limited company. ### [Diamond Cut Diamond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxii-diamond-cut-diamond) Referenced as the mastermind behind Tantaine; Perpignan fears him and knows Tantaine is his agent. ### [The Last Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxvii-the-last-link) Reveals the deciphered cryptogram and the full Champdoce secret; threatens Catenac with exposure. ### [XIX: Mascarin Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xix-mascarin-speaks) Mascarin presents the manuscript he has compiled, revealing his deep knowledge of the Duke de Champdoce's secrets and his control over the situation. ### [A Sudden Check](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xx-a-sudden-check) Acts as the master issuing orders; reveals his orchestrated scheme to find Paul and his method to create a false scar. ### [XXIII: Ringing the Changes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxiii-ringing-the-changes) Mentioned by Croisenois as someone Verminet must see; part of the conspiracy. ### [The Vanishing Bills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxiv-the-vanishing-bills) Referred to as the man Verminet is meeting; André suspects he is central to the plot. ### [The Spy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxv-the-spy) His Servants' Registry Office is visited by Verminet; he is one of the two men who come out with Verminet. ### [Mascarin Moves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxvi-mascarin-moves) Oversees the blackmail operation; has been occupied with the Champdoce affair and the launch of the Limited Company, but now turns attention to the Mussidans. ### [A Cruel Slur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxvii-a-cruel-slur) Mentioned as the mastermind behind the scheme; Tantaine uses his name to gain entry. ### [The Tafila Copper Mines, Limited](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxix-the-tafila-copper-mines-limited) Presents the finalized prospectus for the Tafila Copper Mines to the Marquis de Croisenois, demonstrating his control over the scheme. ### [Gaston's Dilemma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxxi-gaston-s-dilemma) Referred to by Zora as the friend of Tantaine who promised Paul a great fortune; André connects him to the conspiracy. ### [XXXII: M. Lecoq](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxxii-m-lecoq) Identified by Lecoq as the mastermind behind the blackmail ring, also known as Tantaine and Rigal. ### [The Day of Reckoning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-day-of-reckoning) Mascarin orchestrates the marriage of Paul and Flavia, destroys evidence of his Tantaine identity, and attempts to disappear as Mascarin by selling his business and assuming the persona of Martin Rigal. ### [Every Man to His Own Place](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxxv-every-man-to-his-own-place) Has gone mad from the pressure of his crimes, obsessed with his daughter's imagined suffering. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters