MONTMORENCY-LUXEMBOURG, Duchesse de. Contrasted by M, as a friend, with Mme de Guermantes: III 780–81; her opinion of Oriane, and Oriane’s of her: IV 202–3. M’s pleasure in visiting her; her town-house: 203. Charlus’s response to an invitation from her: V 354–55.
MONTPEYROUX, Comtesse de. Sister of the Vicomtesse de Vélude; nicknamed “Petite” because of her stoutness: III 591–92 (cf. Hunolstein, Mme d’).
MONTPEYROUX, Marquis de. Comes to meet the little train at Incarville; recommends his son to M: IV 694–95.
MOREAU, A. J. Friend and colleague of M’s father. Provides a ticket for Berma at the Opéra: III 38–39. Gives M’s father some information about Norpois: 195. Referred to by Norpois: 299.
MOREL, Charles. Violinist, son of Uncle Adolphe’s valet. Calls on M at his father’s instigation; his conceit and ambition; attracted to Jupien’s niece: III 357–61. His first meeting with Charlus, at Doncières station: IV 352–55. Mme Verdurin’s favourite violinist: 382–83, 395, 407. Arrives with Charlus at LA Raspelière: 414. His obsequious request to M, followed by rudeness towards him: 417–20. His vile nature and his gifts as a musician: 420–21. Plays Fauré’s violin sonata, followed by Debussy and Meyerbeer: 478–80. Plays cards with Cottard: 485–86, 492–98, 507–9. Motor-car trips with Charlus; his friendship with the chauffeur; conversation with the Baron in a restaurant at Saint-Mars-le-Vêtu: 550–58. Pursuit of young girls: 557–58. His machinations with the chauffeur to displace Mme Verdurin’s coachman: 582–86. Was he on friendly terms with Albertine?: 586 (cf. V 810–11). His contradictory character: 586–89. The nature of Charlus’s relations with him: 606–11, 615–17, 623–30. His affectionate allusions to M’s Uncle Adolphe: 621–22. His attitude to M; his cruelties to Charlus; pride in his musical career: 625–30. His behaviour over Charlus’s sham duel: 630–45. His requests for money: 645–46. The bogus algebra lessons: 649–50. His assignations with the Prince de Guermantes in the Maineville brothel; spied upon by Charlus and Jupien: 648–56. Takes Charlus’s social precepts too literally: 665–67. Declines an invitation to dine with the Cambremers: 667; on another occasion accepts, but turns up without the Baron: 670–72. His hostility to Bloch: 691. Tea with Charlus at Jupien’s: V 48–54. His ambivalent feelings vis-à-vis Jupien’s niece and cynical intentions towards her: 55–60 (cf. IV 553–55). Asks for her hand in marriage: 59–61. Borrows money from Nissim Bernard through Bloch and fails to repay it; his anti-semitism: 61–63. Jupien’s niece becomes aware of his malevolence and perfidy: 80. The algebra lessons: 210–11. Neurotic outburst against his fiancée (grand pied de grue): 211–13. His madness: 236–37. His remorse, and his decision to break with the Jupiens: 253–59. His relations with LEA: 279–83 (see also 502). Charlus admires his successes with women and his talents as a writer: 283–87; the lampoons against Mme Molé: 288. Refuses to perform for Mme Verdurin’s friends; she resolves to separate him from Charlus: 303–6, 324–26. Plays Vinteuil’s septet: 330–35, 342. Reactions to his performance: 357–65, 366–67, 372, 383–84. Refuses to play Bizet: 385. The Verdurins persuade him to break with Charlus: 414–33. Charlus recites poetry to him: 808–9. His illicit relations with Albertine, according to Andrée: 810–11. His liaison with Saint-Loup (the letter signed “Bobette”): 922–23, 928–29, 931–32; VI 67. A deserter during the war: 57. Pursues Charlus with a venomous hatred; attacks him in newspaper articles; his Bergottesque style: 111–13. Joins up at last: 113–14. Meets Charlus in the street and teases him; the latter threatens revenge: 130–31. Turns heterosexual: 132. His justified fear of Charlus; the latter’s posthumous letter: 164–68. Arrested as a deserter, sent to the front, decorated for bravery: 235–36. After the war, a distinguished and respected public figure; M meets him at the Guermantes reception: 391–92, 446.
MORIENVAL, Baronne de. At the Opéra, compared unfavourably to the Princesse and the Duchesse de Guermantes (“eccentric, pretentious and ill-bred”): III 46, 64. Her ignorance of La Fontaine: VI 68.
MORTEMART, Duchesse de. Conversation with Charlus at the Verdurins’: V 354–61.
MUSICIAN (eminent), friend of Ski’s, invited to La Raspelière; furthers Morel’s career and his relations with Charlus: IV 606–8.
NASSAU, Comte de. See Luxembourg, Grand Duke of.
NASSAU, Princesse de. Aged society courtesan; greets M at the Princesse de Guermantes’s reception: VI 69. (She and the Princesse d’Orvillers (q.v.) are clearly the same person.)
NIÈVRE, Princesse de. Cousin of Mme de Guermantes; has designs on Gilberte for her son: V 782.
NOÉMIE, Mile. Attendant in the “house of pleasure” at Maineville; arranges for Charlus and Jupien to spy on Morel: IV 652–55.
NORPOIS, Marquis de. Ex-Ambassador; his career and character: II 5–12. Dines with M’s family; his physical appearance, manner and voice; advice on M’s career and investments: 29–36. His opinion of Berma: 37–39. Appreciates Françoise’s cooking: 39–40. King Theodosius’s visit: 41–47. Opinions on Balbec and the Swanns: 48–53; on the Comte de Paris, Odette, Bergotte, M’s prose poem, Gilberte: 58–66. Reasons for his failure to inform the Swanns of M’s admiration for them: 70–71 (cf. III 367–69). Reactions to his visit of M’s parents: 75–76, and of Françoise: 76–77. His views (in the matter of art) compared with Bergotte’s; the latter’s opinion of him, and those of Swann and Odette: 185–88. Allusion to his liaison with Mme de Villeparisis: 187. Visits Spain with M’s father: 304 (cf. 48, 381–82). His social diplomacy: the art of “killing two birds with one stone”: 708–9. Likened by M to Mosca in La Chartreuse de Parme: III 136. M’s father’s discovery of his friendship with Mme de Villeparisis: 195–96. M’s father’s hopes of his support as a candidate for election to the Institut: 198–99. His relations with Mme de Villeparisis: 244–45, 294–98. At Mme de Villeparisis’s reception; introduced to Bloch; views on art: 296–99. Declines to support M’s father’s candidacy: 302–4. Discusses the Dreyfus Case with Bloch: 313–16, 323–33. His tortuous diplomatic manoeuvrings with Prince von Faffenheim: 345–55. Calls M “a hysterical little flatterer”: 367 (cf. 724–25). Attends M’s grandmother’s funeral: 468. Meets M in the street and gives him no sign of recognition: 510. In favour of an Anglo-French rapprochement: 722–24. Mme de Guermantes talks about him (and his liaison with Mme de Villeparisis) at dinner: 725–26 (see also III 828–29). Widower of a La Rochefoucauld: 727. Fails to introduce any of his Institut colleagues to Mme de Villeparisis: IV 620. His amnesia about his false prognostications: V 41. In Venice with Mme de Villeparisis: 854–66 (cf. 947–50). His war-time articles: VI 70 ridiculed by Charlus: 129–38, 156, 172.
NORPOIS, Baron and Baronne de. Nephew and niece of the Marquis: III 33–34.
NOTARY from Le Mans. See Blandais, M.
OCTAVE. Young toff at Balbec, consumptive, dissipated, gambling son of an industrialist: II 348, 356–57. Friend of Albertine and the little band; his golf-playing; “I’m a washout”: 625–27. Related to the Verdurins: 632–33. His views on Mme de Villeparisis and Mme de Cambremer: 695–97. Maligned by Andrée: V 71 (cf. 816). His liaison with Rachel: 816–17; marries Andrée: 817–18. His artistic genius: 818–21. Previously in love with Albertine: 830–33 (cf. 122—a vague allusion by Françoise also 817; VI 71). His friendliness towards M: 840–41. One of the stars of Mme Verdurin’s wartime salon: VI 72. His illness; a poor friend: 58–59.
OCTAVE, Madame. See Léonie, Aunt.
OCTAVE, Uncle. Husband of Aunt Léonie; already dead when M used to spend his holidays at Combray: I 66, 75, 141, 152.
ODETTE (Mme de Crécy, then Mme Swann, and finally Mme de Forcheville). M’s family refuse to receive her at Combray: I 16; “a woman of the worst type”: 26; Charlus’s mistress, according to Combray gossip: 45 (cf. 137–38, 200). The “lady in pink” at Uncle Adolphe’s: 104–8 (cf. III 360–61). The “lady in white” at Tansonville: 199. As Odette de Crécy, a member of the Verdurins’ “little clan”: 266. Beginnings of her liaison with Swann; introduces him to the Verdurins; her looks; ?
??I’m always free”: 268–69, 275–81. The little phrase of Vinteuil, “the national anthem of their love”: 299, 308–9, 335–37. Her house in the Rue La Perouse; entertains Swann to tea: 309–13. Resemblance to Botticelli’s Zipporah: 314–18. The letter from the Maison Dorée: 319. Swann’s anguished search for her through the night: 321–28. The cattleyas; becomes Swann’s mistress: 328–38. Her discomfiture when she lies: 339–40 (cf. 398–99). Her vulgarity and bad taste: 341–50. Introduces Forcheville to the Verdurins: 355, 359–60, 369–76. Her money troubles; Swann’s presents; a “kept woman”: 378–82. Swann’s jealous suspicions: 386–91. A cruel smile of complicity with Forcheville: 393. Lies to Swann: 394–99. Her letter to Forcheville, which Swann reads: 400–2. Acquiesces in Swann’s exclusion from the Verdurins’: 404–5. Expeditions with the Verdurins; progress of Swann’s jealousy: 411–22. Her soothing words: 423–24. The trip to Bayreuth: 427–31. Her confidence in Swann’s devotion to her: 433–39. Friendship with Charlus: 441, 448–49, 456–58 (cf. II 458; V 400–2). Quarrels with Uncle Adolphe: 443–44. Swann’s jealousy, and her feelings towards him: 447–57. The little phrase reminds Swann of the early days of their love: 490–95. An anonymous letter about her love life: 506. Swann’s suspicions; he interrogates her about her illicit relations with women and dealings with procuresses; her admissions: 511–26. Confesses to having been with Forcheville on the evening of the cattleyas: 526–27. Her suspect effusions: 529–30. Cruises with the Verdurins; thinks constantly of Swann, according to Mme Cottard: 531–35. Proof that she had indeed been Forcheville’s lover: 538. “A woman who wasn’t even my type”: 543. Married to Swann; Gilberte’s mother; still not received by M’s family: 587–88. Walks or drives in the Allée des Acacias: 592–98, 601–6. Her social position as Swann’s wife: II 1–2. Norpois reports on a dinner-party in her house: 49–52. Scenes she made to Swann before their marriage; has now become “angelic”: 51–58. Receives M at last; her house, her “at home” days, her social mannerisms, development of her salon: 103–30. Her Anglomania: 125 (cf. I 107, 269, 276, 314; II 134–36, 148, 151, 160, 164, 212, 215, 230, 293, 297; III 250, 251; VI 73). Change in Swann’s feelings towards her: 130–34. Plays Vinteuil’s sonata: 139–47. Walks in the Zoological Gardens: 155–64. Invites M to lunch with Bergotte: 164. Criticises Norpois: 186–88 (cf. III 367). M’s visits to her after his breach with Gilberte; her flowers, her “tea;” her indoor elegance: 230–33. Entertains Mmes Cottard, Bontemps and Verdurin: 234–51. Changes in her furniture and clothes: 261–64. Her new style of beauty; “an immortal youthfulness”: 264. The embodiment of fashion; “a period in herself”: 265–69. Walks in the Bois: 290–98. Bloch claims to have enjoyed her favours in a train: 489. Her portrait as “Miss Sacripant” by Elstir: 583–85, 600–4 (see also III 360; V 400, 592–93). Oriane’s view of her: III 307. Gains an entrée into aristocratic society through anti-Dreyfusism: 341. At Mme de Villaparisis’s: 356–57; Charlus pays court to her: 361–66; she and Oriane ignore one another: 369–70. Her salon crystallised round Bergotte; her social rise: IV 194–96. Denies and then admits her former intimacy with the Verdurins: 364–65. Photographs of her—“touched-up” portraits and Swann’s snapshot: V 267 (cf. II 264). Charlus’s account of her life before meeting Swann; his own relations with her; her lovers; was married to M. de Crécy: 400–2 (cf. IV 661). Said to have been Elstir’s mistress: 592–93 (cf. II 604). Sincerely grieved by Swann’s death; marries Forcheville: 776–78. A first cousin of Jupien: 915. Changed attitude to Gilberte’s marriage; finds a generous protector in her son-in-law Saint-Loup: 930–31. During the war, Mme Verdurin fails to win her back: VI 74. Her remarks about the war; admiration for the English: 144–45. Her appearance in old age “defies the laws of chronology”: 377–81; less than three years later “a bit gaga”: 382–83. Her love for Gilberte: 383. M mistakes Gilberte for her: 427–28 (cf. 381–82). Listens to Rachel’s poetry recital: 458–59. Her liaison with the Duc de Guermantes: 480–88. Regales M with anecdotes about her former lovers; had been “desperately in love” with Swann: 488–93.
OLORON, Mile d’. See Jupien, Marie-Antoinette.
ORGEVILLE, Mlle de l’. Girl of good family said by Saint-Loup to frequent brothels: IV 126–27. M’s desires focus on her: 166; V 106, 693. Confused with Mlle de Forcheville (Gilberte): 760–65, 772–74.
(See Eporcheville, Mlle de.)
GRIANE. See Guermantes, Oriane, Duchesse de.
ORS AN, M. d’. Friend of Swann, suspected of having written an anonymous letter: I 506–8.
ORVILLERS, Princesse d’ (Paulette). Makes advances to M in the street: III 510. Late arrival at the Princesse de Guermantes’s soirée; said to be a natural daughter of the Duke of Parma; her ambiguous social position: IV 162–64. “Rather straight-laced,” according to Oriane and her husband: 168.
(See Nassau, Princesse de.)
OSMOND, Amanien, Marquis d’ (“Mama”). Cousin of the Guermantes; his imminent death and its potential effect on the Guermantes’ social arrangements: III 788–89, 792–93, 805–8; IV 83. The Duc de Guermantes’s reaction to his death: “They’re exaggerating”: 169. Ran off with Odette, according to Charlus: V 402.
PAGES at the Grand Hotel, Balbec. “Arborescent” page: II 389, 413; goes off with a Polish countess: IV 233–34.
“Squinting” page (brother of the above): IV 234, his vulgar sister: 515–16.
“Hat-doffing” page: IV 233.
Handsome page whom the lift-boy claims to resemble: IV 259; and the lift-boy’s friend Victor: VI 75.
“Chorus” of pages: II 388–89; IV 235–36, 524–25.
PALANCY, Marquis de. His resemblance to a Ghirlandaio: I 315. At Mme de Saint-Euverte’s; his monocle: 465–66. At the Opéra his fish-like appearance: III 48–49, 62.
PARK-KEEPER in the Champs-Elysées: II 88; conversation with the “Marquise” (q.v.): III 419–23.
PARME, Princesse de. Gives the most splendid parties in Paris: I 382. Swann sends her a basket of fruit for her birthday: 440. Her shadow-theatre show and her box at the Opéra: III 35–38, 42. Her philanthropy and lack of snobbishness: 64. M presented to her at the Guermantes’; her affability; “She thinks you’re charming”: 580–82 (cf. II 381). Reasons for her amiability; her pedigree and upbringing as a “daughter of kings”: 584–88. Her admiration for the Guermantes style: 598–99. Her salon; her enraptured curiosity and wonderment at Oriane’s doings: 619–27, 638–40, 643, 647–48, 655–56. The Guermantes dinner-party; Oriane shows off in front of her; her naivety; intercedes on behalf of Saint-Loup: 661–716. The leave-taking ceremonial; her lady-in-waiting; M’s snow-boots: 746–50. Visits Balbec; her royal politeness; her tips: IV 254–55. M’s mother pays a call on her and is ignored: V 807. Her return visit next day: 829–30. Arranges the marriage of young Cambremer with Jupien’s niece: 903–5.
PASTRY-COOK. Stared at by Albertine, whom she ignores: V 548–49.
PERCEPIED, Doctor. His malicious jokes about the Vinteuils: I 207–8. Mme de Guermantes attends his daughter’s wedding: 245–46. M composes his first literary essay in his carriage: 253–56
PÉRIGOT, Joseph. Françoise’s young footman in Paris; his pleasure at moving house: III 1–2; his deference to Françoise: 12–13, 22–27; his taste for poetry; “borrows” M’s books: 437, 754; his letter: 776–77.
PERUVIAN (young). Conceives a violent hatred for Mme de Mortemart: V 360.
PHILOSOPHER, Norwegian. Guest of the Verdurins at La Raspelière; his deliberation of thought and diction and rapidity of departure: IV 446–48, 453–54. Mystery of his disappearance: 509. Quotes Bergson on soporifics; his belief in the immortality of the soul: 520–22.
PIANIST (young) patronised by the Verdurins: I 265–66; his aunt: 266–67, 287–88, 368, 414–15; plays Vinteuil’s sonata: 290–91, 297–302, 308–9, 373–74. (Is this pianist Dechambre? q.v.)
PIERRE, M. Historian of the Fronde. Visits Mme de Villeparisis; “solemn and tongue-tied”: III 252; his insomnia: 257, 289; his ignorance of social
customs and of botany: 285–88; mocked by the Duc de Guermantes: 319–22 (see abo 265–67, 304, 308–11).
PIERRE. Club doorman, writes M. de Charlus an intimate letter: V 51.
PIPERAUD, Dr. Combray doctor: I 75.
PLASSAC, Walpurge, Marquise de. Her town-house: III 785. Calls on her cousin the Duc de Guermantes, with her sister Mme de Tresmes, to report on Amanien d’Osmond’s state of health; her walking-stick: 788–90. Brings news of Amanien’s death: IV 169.
POICTIERS, Duchesse de. Cousin of Saint-Loup, who recommends her to M as a substitute for his aunt Oriane—“a very good sort”: III 192–93.
POIRÉ, Abbé. Dreyfusist priest confided in by both the Prince and the Princesse de Guermantes: IV 147–50.
POIX, Princesse de. Intimate friend of Oriane de Guermantes, attends Alix’s “Fridays”: III 261. Visits Gilberte de Saint-Loup: V 909.
POMMELIÈRE, Marquise de la. Nicknamed “la Pomme;” the Princesse de Guermantes’s inane remark about her: IV 80.
PONCIN, M. Senior judge from Caen, on holiday at Balbec: II 345–48, 362, 382–83. Becomes Commander of the Legion of Honour: IV 205. His delight on hearing of M’s arrival at Balbec: 209, 221–22. Condoles with M’s mother: 230. His mistake as to the identity of the Princesse de Parme: 252. Doffs his hat to the Marquise de Cambremer: 276. His frustrated snobbery: 299–302, 591–92 (cf. Toureuil, Judge).
PONCIN, Mme. Wife of the above. Her social resentment and disapproval: II 348–49, 361–62. Her misapprehensions about Mme de Villeparisis and the Princesse de Luxembourg: 383–84. Observes the passers-by on the esplanade: 503–4. Regards M. de Cambremer as a man of supreme aristocratic distinction: IV 423.
PORTEFIN, Berthe, Duchesse de. Helps Mme de Villeparisis with her theatricals: III 289–90. Admired by Morel: V 423.
POULLEIN. Guermantes footman, prevented from going to see his fiancée; Françoise’s sympathy for him: III 193, 202, 417, 510, 578. Mme de Guermantes changes his day off out of jealousy and spite: 662–63, 675, and insists on his staying in when the Duke allows him a night out: 805–6.