# Noël Bastable — The Story of the Treasure Seekers character guide

> Noël Bastable in The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Noël, Bastable, Prince Noël Camaralzaman Ivan Constantine

**First appearance:** 0001-the-story-of-the-treasure-seekers

## Snapshot

A ten-year-old twin with a delicate chest and a poet's soul, forever casting himself as a prince and turning family misfortune into verse.

## Who they are

Noël is one of the twins, ten years old, with a chest delicate enough that Alice once knitted him a scarf — which he refused to wear because it was wider at one end. He is the family's poet and dreamer, the one who gives himself grand names like Prince Noël Camaralzaman Ivan Constantine and sees the treasure hunt as material for romance. His imaginative, slightly mournful sensibility colors the adventures with a longing for something larger than the Lewisham Road.

## In the story

### [The Story of the Treasure Seekers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-treasure-seekers)

The poetic brother, contributes imaginative ideas.

### [The Council of Ways and Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/i-the-council-of-ways-and-means)

A poet who suggests reading books for ideas; his chest is delicate.

### [Being Detectives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iii-being-detectives)

Mentioned as part of the group but does not have a prominent role in this chapter.

### [Good Hunting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/iv-good-hunting)

His poetry is the focus of the scheme; shares his work with the lady poet on the train; receives encouragement and two shillings.

### [The Poet and the Editor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/v-the-poet-and-the-editor)

The poet; sells his poems to the Editor for a guinea; writes a poem for the Editor on the spot.

### [VI: Noël’s Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/vi-no-l-s-princess)

Declares he will find a princess and marries her in a mock ceremony; imaginative and romantic.

### [VII: Being Bandits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/vii-being-bandits)

Still upset about the Princess; his poetry money contributed to gifts and fireworks; dresses up as a page for the rescue.

### [Being Editors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/viii-being-editors)

Writes Chapter V of the serial story and a poem 'The Wreck of the Malabar'.

### [X: Lord Tottenham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/x-lord-tottenham)

Contributes a poem as a gift to Lord Tottenham as part of the apology.

### [Castilian Amoroso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xi-castilian-amoroso)

Briefly mentioned as playing admirals with the newspaper containing the advertisement.

### [XII: The Nobleness of Oswald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xii-the-nobleness-of-oswald)

Has a cold and stays in bed; writes poetry about Oswald's noble act.

### [The Robber and the Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xiii-the-robber-and-the-burglar)

Suggests asking a robber politely to leave; stays behind due to his cold; contributes to the discussion about robbers.

### [XIV: The Divining-Rod](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xiv-the-divining-rod)

Creates impromptu poetry to resolve the quarrel; is crowned poet laureate with laurel leaves; contributes to the divining-rod chant.

### [XV: “Lo, the Poor Indian!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xv-lo-the-poor-indian)

Interprets the situation as a banquet for the poor Indian, showing his imaginative understanding.

### [The End of the Treasure-Seeking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/chapters/xvi-the-end-of-the-treasure-seeking)

Recognizes the 'poor Indian'; writes a poem about finding the uncle as the best treasure.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters/noel_bastable
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_the_treasure_seekers_se/characters