# Dr. Hortebise — The Slaves of Paris character guide > Dr. Hortebise in The Slaves of Paris by Émile Gaboriau. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Hortebise, the genial Dr. Hortebise, Doctor Hortebise **First appearance:** 0003-iii-the-opinion-of-dr-hortebise ## Snapshot A celebrated physician whose genial bedside manner and Epicurean charm conceal a mind of thoroughgoing cynicism and a catalogue of appalling vices. ## Who they are Hortebise moves easily through the best society, laughing at the very schemes he profits from, and answers Mascarin's warnings by flashing a gold locket he keeps for some later use. Twenty-five years of shared secrets bind him to the association, yet his levity unsettles even his oldest partner. His medical respectability is the respectable face of a conspiracy that needs exactly that kind of cover. ## Relationships ### [Baptiste Mascarin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin) _professional_ Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise are co-conspirators in a criminal enterprise, using Hortebise's medical position for fraud. ### [Paul Violaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/paul_violaine) _psychological_ Dr. Hortebise manipulates Paul Violaine as a tool in his schemes, feigning friendship while exploiting him. ### [Viscountess de Bois Arden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/viscountess_de_bois_arden) _professional_ Dr. Hortebise has a professional relationship with the Viscountess, likely involving medical care and manipulation. ### [Paul Violaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/paul_violaine) _psychological_ Dr. Hortebise manipulates Paul Violaine as a tool in his schemes, feigning friendship while exploiting him. ### [Baptiste Mascarin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin) _professional_ Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise are co-conspirators in a criminal enterprise, using Hortebise's medical position for fraud. ### [Baptiste Mascarin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/baptiste_mascarin) _professional_ Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise are co-conspirators in a criminal enterprise, using Hortebise's medical position for fraud. ### [Viscountess de Bois Arden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/viscountess_de_bois_arden) _professional_ Dr. Hortebise has a professional relationship with the Viscountess, likely involving medical care and manipulation. ### [Viscountess de Bois Arden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/viscountess_de_bois_arden) _professional_ Dr. Hortebise has a professional relationship with the Viscountess, likely involving medical care and manipulation. ### [Paul Violaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/paul_violaine) _psychological_ Dr. Hortebise manipulates Paul Violaine as a tool in his schemes, feigning friendship while exploiting him. ## 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) A key player in the conspiracy, using his position to further the plot. ### [The Opinion of Dr. Hortebise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/iii-the-opinion-of-dr-hortebise) Expresses reservations about Paul Violaine, warns of dangers from Rose and the mysterious protector, and recoils at Mascarin's suggestion of using smallpox. ### [A Trustworthy Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/iv-a-trustworthy-servant) Confederate of Mascarin; agrees to approach the Countess to promote the Marquis de Croisenois while Mascarin pressures the Count to break Sabine's engagement. ### [VI: A Medical Advisor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/vi-a-medical-advisor) Visits the Countess de Mussidan as part of Mascarin's scheme; manipulates her into agreeing to Sabine's marriage to Henry de Croisenois. ### [XIII: Husband and Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xiii-husband-and-wife) Mentioned as having tasked the Countess with influencing the marriage situation. ### [Father and Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xiv-father-and-daughter) Accompanies Paul to the Rigal dinner and watches the young couple with the banker. He discusses Mascarin's plans and the upcoming meeting with Catenac and Croisenois. ### [A Turn of the Screw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xvi-a-turn-of-the-screw) Arrives early, notices Beaumarchef's negligence, and engages in a tense argument with Catenac over the new scheme. ### [Some Scraps of Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xvii-some-scraps-of-paper) Present at the meeting, initially alarmed by Mascarin's frankness, but resigns himself to the discussion. ### [XVIII: An Infamous Trade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xviii-an-infamous-trade) Present during the discussion; laughs at Paul's cynicism and supports Mascarin's plan. ### [An Academy of Music](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxi-an-academy-of-music) Obeys Mascarin's orders to keep Paul under constant surveillance; hosts Paul for dinner and overnight. ### [XXV: A New Skin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxv-a-new-skin) Advises abandoning the risky plan but reluctantly agrees to follow Tantaine; carries a poison pill as a last resort. ### [The Last Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxvii-the-last-link) Reports that the Countess de Mussidan has agreed to the marriage; present during the cipher revelation. ### [XIX: Mascarin Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xix-mascarin-speaks) Hortebise reacts with alarm when the name of M. Lecoq is mentioned, threatening to withdraw from the scheme. ### [A Sudden Check](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xx-a-sudden-check) Assists Mascarin; explains the process of creating a false scar using chloroform and a special liquid. ### [The Tempter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxviii-the-tempter) Attends to Paul's wound and tries to silence Paul's indiscreet comments about Flavia. ### [The Tafila Copper Mines, Limited](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxix-the-tafila-copper-mines-limited) Attempts to calm Tantaine and warns Flavia about compromising her reputation; is shocked by Tantaine's murder plot. ### [The Day of Reckoning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-day-of-reckoning) Hortebise is reassured by Mascarin about the success of their schemes, though he remains uneasy about the Mussidans and the delayed marriage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters/dr_hortebise - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/characters