Count Pateroff and His Sister explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Appearance vs. Reality

  Count Pateroff appears friendly and cultured but evades honest discussion about Lady Ongar; Madame Gordeloup offers false friendship.

• Betrayal and Redemption

  Harry feels betrayed by Lady Ongar's association with the Pateroffs and Gordeloups, whom he considers vulgar and untrustworthy.

Characters to notice

• Harry Clavering

  Dines with Count Pateroff and later visits Madame Gordeloup; feels disturbed by their influence on Lady Ongar.

• Count Pateroff

  Dines with Harry at the Beaufort; evades questions about Lady Ongar and directs Harry to his sister.

• Sophie Gordeloup

  Receives Harry in Mount Street; speaks freely about Lady Ongar's past and future, and offers her friendship to Harry.

• Julia Brabazon

  Discussed by Count Pateroff and Madame Gordeloup; Harry reflects on her association with them.

• Florence Burton

  Harry dines with the Burtons in Onslow Crescent but does not mention Lady Ongar or Count Pateroff.

• Theodore Burton

  Sarcastically remarks that Harry is only fit to go about tied to a woman's apron-string.

Key passages

• “I will say anything in her favour that you please. I am always ready to say anything in the favour of any lady, and, if needs be, to swear it. But anything against any lady nobody ever heard me say.”

  Count Pateroff offers to speak only positively about Lady Ongar, but his stipulation makes his praise seem insincere.

  Harry perceives the Count's offer as a form of evasion, undermining any trust in his words.

• “She will marry, said Madame Gordeloup, changing her tone with a suddenness that made Harry start; yes, she will marry of course. Your English widows always marry if they have money.”

  Madame Gordeloup asserts that Lady Ongar will remarry because she is wealthy, a common expectation for English widows.

  Harry is startled by her bluntness and the implication that Lady Ongar's future is determined by her fortune.