# Raymond Marolles — The Trail of the Serpent character guide > Raymond Marolles in The Trail of the Serpent by M. E. Braddon. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Monsieur Marolles, Raymond, Monsieur Raymond Marolles, Marolles, Monsieur de Marolles, Raymond de Marolles **First appearance:** 0010-book-ii-a-clearance-of-all-scores ## Snapshot A polished French count and South American banker whose beautiful wife, vast fortune, and cold sneer conceal a marriage built on blackmail and a crime he means to keep buried. ## Who they are Raymond Marolles has converted his wife's fortune into estates, a title, and a banking house in London, and the world rewards him with trust and admiration. Yet his marriage to Valerie is a cold war: he taunts her with his command of her money, and she answers with contempt and a threat of vengeance. His stealth and calculation—pocketing a wineglass, promising her that tomorrow she will be 'mademoiselle'—establish him as the novel's presiding menace, a villain whose respectability is his best disguise. ## Relationships ### [Valerie de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/valerie_de_cevennes) _romantic_ Raymond is deeply in love with Valerie, but their relationship is complicated by social barriers and family opposition. ### [Marquis de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/marquis_de_cevennes) _rivalry_ The Marquis opposes Raymond's relationship with his daughter Valerie, viewing him as an unsuitable suitor. ### [Madame Elizabeth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/madame_elizabeth) _family_ Madame Elizabeth is Raymond's mother, fiercely protective and emotionally dependent on him. ### [Valerie de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/valerie_de_cevennes) _romantic_ Raymond is deeply in love with Valerie, but their relationship is complicated by social barriers and family opposition. ### [Marquis de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/marquis_de_cevennes) _rivalry_ The Marquis opposes Raymond's relationship with his daughter Valerie, viewing him as an unsuitable suitor. ### [Madame Elizabeth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/madame_elizabeth) _family_ Madame Elizabeth is Raymond's mother, fiercely protective and emotionally dependent on him. ### [Valerie de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/valerie_de_cevennes) _romantic_ Raymond is deeply in love with Valerie, but their relationship is complicated by social barriers and family opposition. ### [Marquis de Cevennes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/marquis_de_cevennes) _rivalry_ The Marquis opposes Raymond's relationship with his daughter Valerie, viewing him as an unsuitable suitor. ### [Madame Elizabeth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/madame_elizabeth) _family_ Madame Elizabeth is Raymond's mother, fiercely protective and emotionally dependent on him. ## In the story ### [Book II: A Clearance of All Scores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-ii-a-clearance-of-all-scores) Marries Valerie de Cevennes; his identity is later revealed as Jabez North. ### [Working in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-working-in-the-dark) The lounger who orchestrates a scheme to infiltrate Valerie's pavilion by bribing and threatening her maid. ### [III: The Wrong Footstep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-wrong-footstep) The mysterious visitor who manipulates Valerie and reveals her husband's supposed betrayal. ### [IV: Ocular Demonstration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iv-ocular-demonstration) The lounger and schemer; he orchestrates a deception to convince Valerie of Gaston's infidelity, using a mimic and a staged scene in the wood. ### [V: The King of Spades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-king-of-spades) Orchestrates the fortune-telling session, whispering instructions to Blurosset and manipulating Valerie. ### [VI: A Glass of Wine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-a-glass-of-wine) Pressures Valerie, hides in the dressing-room, and removes the evidence after Gaston drinks the opiate. ### [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) Observes Valerie from the stalls; later whispers a threatening congratulation to her as she leaves. ### [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) Arrives at the château to claim his reward; maintains a cool, mocking demeanor; taunts Valerie with the words 'crime—poison—murder.' ### [IX: A Marriage in High Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ix-a-marriage-in-high-life) The bridegroom, a mysterious man of unknown origins; he is calculating, unemotional, and views the marriage as a successful financial speculation. ### [X: Animal Magnetism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/x-animal-magnetism) Valerie's husband; mentioned as engaged at a dinner given by a distinguished member of the chamber of peers. ### [Book V: The Dumb Detective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-v-the-dumb-detective) Antagonistic presence, likely connected to the crimes being probed. ### [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) Now titled Count de Marolles, wealthy banker, cold and sneering toward his wife. ### [II: Mr. Peters Sees a Ghost](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-mr-peters-sees-a-ghost) The Count de Marolles, seen by Mr. Peters in London; Peters believes he is dead. ### [III: The Cherokees Mark Their Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-cherokees-mark-their-man) The Count de Marolles, observed calmly at the opera with his wife and son; identified by Richard and the Cherokees as the murderer. ### [The New Milkman in Park Lane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-the-new-milkman-in-park-lane) The Count de Marolles, whose household is the setting; discussed by the servants as haughty and wealthy. ### [VI: Signor Mosquetti Relates an Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-signor-mosquetti-relates-an-adventure) Enters the room after his wife's collapse; Mosquetti identifies him as the man who hired him to impersonate Gaston de Lancy. ### [VII: The Golden Secret Is Told, and the Golden Bowl Is Broken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vii-the-golden-secret-is-told-and-the-golden-bowl-is-broken) Reflects on his precarious situation after Valerie learns the truth; encounters an old woman who reveals his mother married a French marquis, de Cevennes. ### [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) Referred to as Valerie's second husband, a villain, an Englishman, and a murderer; Blurosset reveals his true identity and criminal nature. ### [Book VI: On the Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/book-vi-on-the-track) The alias under which Jabez North operates, now being tracked by authorities. ### [I: Father and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/i-father-and-son) The Count de Marolles, husband of Valerie, who is confronted by the Marquis and later arrested for forgery. ### [Raymond de Marolles Shows Himself Better Than All Bow Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/ii-raymond-de-marolles-shows-himself-better-than-all-bow-street) Confronts the Marquis, reveals himself as his abandoned son, and plans escape from police. ### [The Left-Handed Smasher Makes His Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/iii-the-left-handed-smasher-makes-his-mark) Referred to as the Count de Marolles, he is the stranger in a slouched hat who is knocked unconscious by the Smasher. The Smasher recognizes him and notes he will not be traveling to America as intended. ### [Mr. Peters Decides on a Strange Step, and Arrests the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/v-mr-peters-decides-on-a-strange-step-and-arrests-the-dead) The fugitive who fakes death and is hidden in a coffin, ultimately arrested by Mr. Peters. ### [VI: The End of the Dark Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/chapters/vi-the-end-of-the-dark-road) The elegant and accomplished Count de Marolles, alias Jabez North, stands trial for the murder of Montague Harding, and later commits suicide in his cell. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_trail_of_the_serpent_se/characters/raymond_marolles - 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