Adeline
Sweetly innocent and innocently lively young woman who was abandoned by her father and rescued from thieves by the La Motte clan. She takes up residence in the abandoned abbey until her life takes another turn for the worst: La Motte also plans to abandon her by turning her over the malevolent Marquis de Montalt, Phillippe. The Marquis, it turns out, is really her uncle her sought to cheat her out her inheritance as it turns out the young woman is actually an heiress.
Pierre de la Motte
A man of low character who loses a fortune on lousy wagering, Pierre rescues Adeline from those sent to kill, but only with great reluctance. Once established in the abbey, he almost immediately sets to working on a conspiracy with Phillippe who plans to first seduce and then kill Adeline. Captured and tried, he is later exiled form France.
Henry, Marquis de Montalt
Half-brother of Phillippe and member of the nobility to which Adeline is heir. He is attacked, robbed, imprisoned and ultimately killed by Phillippe over claims to his title and his fortune.
Phillippe, Marquis de Montalt
In addition to being the fratricidal kin of Henry and would-be killer contract killer of Adeline, Phillipe just also happens to be the owner of that abandoned abbey in which Pierre de la Motte sought refuge with Adeline in tow.
Aunoy, Jean d’ (Louis de St. Pierre)
A thief drafted into the conspiracy by Phillippe to abduct Henry de Montalt and then pose as father to Adeline before, ultimately, killing her. Finding himself unable to make that leap from thief to murderer, he instead hires a common thug named du Bosse before turning state’s evidence against Phillippe.
Louis de la Motte
Pierre’s son and a soldier off in Germany who comes home for a visit and instantly falls under the spell of the bewitching Adeline. Through his friendship with Theodore Peyron, it is he who uncovers the truth about Adeline’s true heritage.
Theodore Peyron
A French officer in the regiment headed by Marquis de Montalt, he is also bewitched by Adeline and tries to help her escape from Phillippe. For this he is convicted of insubordination and sentenced to death. After the trial of Phillipe, he is released from prison and proceeds to win Adeline’s heart as well as her hand in marriage.
