# Gaston de Lancy — The Trail of the Serpent character guide

> Gaston de Lancy in The Trail of the Serpent by M. E. Braddon.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** O Gaston de Lancy, Gaston, Monsieur de Lancy

**First appearance:** 0018-book-iii-holy-institution

## Who they are

A Frenchman whose disappearance sparks part of the mystery.

## Relationships

### [Valerie de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/valerie_de_cevennes)

_romantic_

Gaston de Lancy is a suitor to Valerie, creating romantic tension with Raymond Marolles.

### [Valerie de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/valerie_de_cevennes)

_romantic_

Gaston de Lancy is a suitor to Valerie, creating romantic tension with Raymond Marolles.

## In the story

### [III: The Wrong Footstep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-wrong-footstep)

Valerie's husband, the tenor Elvino; absent due to a supper engagement, allegedly betraying her trust.

### [IV: Ocular Demonstration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-ocular-demonstration)

The tenor; though not physically present in the chapter, he is the subject of the deception, with his voice and manner mimicked to deceive Valerie.

### [VI: A Glass of Wine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-a-glass-of-wine)

Returns to the pavilion, drinks the drugged wine, and leaves for the opera.

### [VII: The Last Act of Lucretia Borgia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-last-act-of-lucretia-borgia)

Opera singer performing Gennaro; collapses and dies on stage during the performance.

### [Bad Dreams and a Worse Waking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/viii-bad-dreams-and-a-worse-waking)

His death by suspected poison is recounted; the opera singer is buried quietly at Rouen and soon forgotten by Paris.

### [The Count de Marolles at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-the-count-de-marolles-at-home)

Mentioned implicitly through Valerie's memories and the boy's dark ringlets; not directly present.

### [VI: Signor Mosquetti Relates an Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-signor-mosquetti-relates-an-adventure)

Deceased singer mentioned by Mosquetti and an elderly lord; Mosquetti was hired to impersonate him.

### [IX: Captain Lansdown Overhears a Conversation Which Appears to Interest Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ix-captain-lansdown-overhears-a-conversation-which-appears-to-interest-him)

Valerie's first husband, whom she loved and murdered; his name is invoked as the victim of the plot.

### [Farewell to England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-farewell-to-england)

Revealed to be alive; had been given an opiate by Blurosset and suffered a long fever; now restored to Valerie.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/gaston_de_lancy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters