# Diana de Laurebourg — The Slaves of Paris character guide > Diana de Laurebourg in The Slaves of Paris by Émile Gaboriau. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mademoiselle de Laurebourg, Mademoiselle Diana, Laurebourg **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-caught-in-the-net ## Snapshot The penniless 'Belle of Poitiers,' convent-bred and secretly fierce, who loves Norbert but trades her hand and her secrets to survive. ## Who they are Diana de Laurebourg is beautiful, portionless, and far more calculating than her convent education suggests; her father has told her plainly that her only career is to fascinate a wealthy equal. She loves Norbert de Champdoce, yet when Octave de Mussidan proposes she writes to Norbert, receives his furious refusal, and accepts Octave with a laugh that hides everything. Her stolen bottle of poison and her hold over the trembling Daumon mark her as a woman who will not be a victim, and her choices ripple through every marriage and crime in the book. ## Relationships ### [Louis Norbert de Champdoce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/louis_norbert_de_champdoce) _romantic_ Diana is a manipulative femme fatale who ensnares Louis Norbert in a passionate but destructive love affair to control him. ### [Daumon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/daumon) _professional_ Daumon is a criminal associate and accomplice to Diana, working together in their schemes of blackmail and manipulation. ### [Duke de Champdoce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/duke_de_champdoce) _rivalry_ Diana and the Duke are adversaries, as she schemes against his family and he tries to protect his son from her. ### [Count Octave de Mussidan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/count_octave_de_mussidan) _romantic_ Count Octave is infatuated with Diana, who uses his affection to further her own manipulative goals. ### [Louis Norbert de Champdoce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/louis_norbert_de_champdoce) _romantic_ Diana is a manipulative femme fatale who ensnares Louis Norbert in a passionate but destructive love affair to control him. ### [Louis Norbert de Champdoce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/louis_norbert_de_champdoce) _romantic_ Diana is a manipulative femme fatale who ensnares Louis Norbert in a passionate but destructive love affair to control him. ### [Daumon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/daumon) _professional_ Daumon is a criminal associate and accomplice to Diana, working together in their schemes of blackmail and manipulation. ### [Daumon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/daumon) _professional_ Daumon is a criminal associate and accomplice to Diana, working together in their schemes of blackmail and manipulation. ### [Duke de Champdoce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/duke_de_champdoce) _rivalry_ Diana and the Duke are adversaries, as she schemes against his family and he tries to protect his son from her. ### [Duke de Champdoce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/duke_de_champdoce) _rivalry_ Diana and the Duke are adversaries, as she schemes against his family and he tries to protect his son from her. ### [Count Octave de Mussidan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/count_octave_de_mussidan) _romantic_ Count Octave is infatuated with Diana, who uses his affection to further her own manipulative goals. ### [Count Octave de Mussidan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/count_octave_de_mussidan) _romantic_ Count Octave is infatuated with Diana, who uses his affection to further her own manipulative goals. ## In the story ### [Part II: The Champdoce Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/part-ii-the-champdoce-mystery) A key player in the schemes affecting the Champdoce family, with hidden motives. ### [II: A Dangerous Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/ii-a-dangerous-acquaintance) Mentioned by Daumon as a lady who blushes at Norbert's name, hinting at a romantic interest. ### [A Bold Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/iii-a-bold-adventure) The 'Belle of Poitiers'; secretly resolves to marry Norbert, visiting the poor near Champdoce to catch a glimpse of him. ### [A Bad Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/v-a-bad-start) Orchestrates a meeting with Norbert after being accidentally shot, using the incident to advance her plan to become Duchess of Champdoce. ### [The Count de Puymandour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/vi-the-count-de-puymandour) Meets Norbert secretly, distrusts Daumon, and confronts him about Widow Rouleau's summons. She is determined to pursue her love despite risks. ### [An Unlucky Blow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/vii-an-unlucky-blow) Confronts the Duke in the woods, defiantly swears Norbert shall be her husband, and later regains composure. ### [VIII: The Little Glass Bottle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/viii-the-little-glass-bottle) Visits Daumon after meeting the Duke in the forest; is distraught and hesitates to elope with Norbert. ### [X: A Thunderbolt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/x-a-thunderbolt) Consumed by anxiety and suspense, she visits Daumon, endures his insults, and later confronts Norbert at night, only to be rejected and vow revenge. ### [XI: Marriage Bells; Funeral Knells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xi-marriage-bells-funeral-knells) Engaged to Viscount Octave de Mussidan, sends Norbert a passionate letter offering to elope, but is rejected. ### [XII: “Rash Word, Rash Deed”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xii-rash-word-rash-deed) After Norbert's rejection, she shifts her hatred to Marie de Puymandour, accepts Octave's proposal, marries him, and later learns of Montlouis's death, feeling relief. She plans to use Marie's past love against Norbert. ### [A Scheme of Vengeance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xiii-a-scheme-of-vengeance) Now the Countess de Mussidan, she manipulates Norbert and proposes a scheme to become his wife's friend to continue their affair. ### [False Friend, Old Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xiv-false-friend-old-lover) Now Countess de Mussidan, she manipulates both Norbert and Marie, orchestrating a reunion between Marie and George de Croisenois to further her own vengeful plans. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/diana_de_laurebourg - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters