A surgeon. Through his friendship with Mugeron, he procures a place in the service of D'Olive.
COUNTESS
A "ghost character." The late wife of St. Anne and sister of Vandome. The Countess has died but her body is preserved by St. Anne and positioned in his house as though she were still alive.
DICQUE
A witty, and sometimes surly, servant attending Marcellina.
D'OLIVE
An associate of Roderique and Mugeron. D'Olive thinks of himself as a witty man of learning, but is ridiculed behind his back. Asked by the Duke Philip to serve as an ambassador to St. Anne, D'Olive delivers an inane defense of tobacco before accepting. Buoyed by his new position, D'Olive resolves to act as a nobleman and to refuse, for example, to repay any debts. Soon, however, D'Olive resents his elevated status because it makes him a target for cheats and parasites. Still worse, before he can even set off on his mission, D'Olive is shocked to learn that the matter has already been resolved, and that he has become an object of contempt. Angered, D'Olive renounces the Court. He returns briefly when he is deceived into thinking Hieronime is in love with him, but quickly learns that he has once again been gulled.
DUCHESS
Wife of Duke Philip.
EURIONE
Sister and companion of Marcellina. Eurione, seeing the remarkable loyalty and dedication of the Earl St. Anne, falls in love with him. She is united with the Earl, but hearing from Vandome that St. Anne is unfaithful, she goes out to find him, bringing Marcellina with her. She soon learns, however, that St. Anne is loyal, and that the accusation was part of a ploy by Vandome to effect a reconciliation between Vaumont and Marcellina.
HIERONIME
A lady at court. At various times supposed to be the mistress of St. Anne and in love with D'Olive.
FRIPPER
A dealer of cast-off clothing. His friendship with Mugeron allows him to procure a place in the service of D'Olive.
KING of FRANCE
A "ghost character." The king is the uncle of Vandome and St. Anne's late wife.
LICETTE
A servant attending on Marcellina.
MARCELLINA
The wife of Vaumont and friend to Vandome. Accused by her husband of infidelity, she refuses the company of men altogether and vows never to go out in public. When she hears that her sister Eurione has been wronged, however, she breaks her vow, and is entreated to forgive all.
MUGERON
A courtier. Along with Roderique, he enjoys the antics of the foolish D'Olive. When D'Olive renounces court life, he plots with Roderique to forge a love letter from the lady Hieronime to draw D'Olive back to Court and embarrass himself.
PACQUE
A friend of Dicque who enters the service of D'Olive.
PAGE
A non-speaking part. Mugeron and Roderique send the page on various small errands.
DUKE PHILIP
A duke. On the advice of Mugeron and Roderique, he plans to send D'Olive as an ambassador to St. Anne in the hopes that the Earl will permit the proper Christian burial of his late wife, the niece of the King.
RODERIQUE
A courtier. Along with Mugeron, he enjoys the antics of the foolish D'Olive. When D'Olive renounces court life, he plots with Mugeron to forge a love letter from the lady Hieronime to draw D'Olive back to Court and embarrass himself.
SERVANT, FIRST and SECOND
Servants to Marcellina.
ST. ANNE
An earl. Though his wife has died, he preserves her body and sits with it in inconsolable grief. When Vandome asks him to woo Eurione on his behalf, he reluctantly agrees, and, as Vandome intended, St. Anne falls in love with her. For this St. Anne is wracked with guilt as he believes he is betraying both his friend and the memory of his dead wife. When Vandome blesses the match, however, he is relieved and vows to bury his late wife properly before wedding his new beloved.
VANDOME
A nobleman famous for his virtue. He is saddened to learn of the difficulties between Vaumont and his wife, Marcellina; he is all the more saddened to learn of the death of his sister and the frenzied grief of his brother-in-law. Nevertheless, he insists on seeing Marcellina and demands to know why she has shut herself up in darkness. At that meeting, he learns of Eurione's love for the Earl St. Anne and promises to help her win him. He tells St. Anne that he himself is in love with Eurione and that the Earl must speak to her on his behalf. When St. Anne agrees and does fall in love with Eurione, Vandome toys with him, calling him a traitor to both himself and his dead sister. Soon, however, Vandome relents, and blesses the new match. His next task is to reconcile Vaumont and Marcellina. To accomplish this objective, he invents a story that St. Anne is arranging an affair with Hieronime, which compels Marcellina to break her vow and accompany Eurione out into the world.
VAUMONT
A count. He jealously suspects his wife of an affair with Vandome. He is struck by remorse when she confines herself to her chamber. In the end, through the aid of Vandome, a reconciliation becomes possible.