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Elmer Moffatt
Raymond de Chelles is a French marquis and of Undine Spragg’s third husband. Although his significant wealth and European background seem to differentiate him from Undine’s previous husbands, he ultimately disappoints her just as her previous husbands did. Partly, this is because Undine is the type of person who’s never satisfied, but it’s also because Raymond fails to live up to her romantic notions of European nobility. Even compared to the old-money families of New York, Raymond is traditional, since European history goes back even further. Raymond’s Catholic faith (which forbids divorce) has ancient roots and contrasts with the more recent Protestant faith of most of the American characters from New York. Raymond also has an old-fashioned devotion to preserving his family’s rural chateau, which contrasts with the more contemporary urban style of the wealthy American characters. All of this bores Undine, who prefers the bustle of urban life, yet the strength of Raymond’s belief in tradition leaves her feeling powerless to oppose him. Raymond demonstrates how there are different kinds of wealth outside of New York high society and how in spite of old money’s glamor, it often comes with traditions that trap new generations in their ancestors’ shadows.
Raymond de Chelles Quotes in The Custom of the Country
The The Custom of the Country quotes below are all either spoken by Raymond de Chelles or refer to Raymond de Chelles. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 20 Quotes
Some six weeks later. Undine Marvell stood at the window smiling down on her recovered Paris.
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This passage describes a triumphant moment in Paris when Undine looks out the window and feels good about the direction her life has gone since the last time she was in Paris. After an initial honeymoon period with her new husband Ralph, Undine began to resent Ralph and how his lack of money forced her to live a more modest life than she would have liked. But as she looks out the window now, she feels that she has gained back the exciting, vibrant life that Paris represents. Although Undine has not yet divorced Ralph, she feels that she will Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur e
Chapter 24 Quotes
“If you’d only had the sense to come straight to me, Undine Spragg!
There isn’t a tip I couldn’t have given you—not one!”
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This quote comes from Indiana Frusk, and old friend of Undine’s from Apex who used to live in Undine’s shadow—but who suddenly shoots ahead of Undine socially when she marries Representative James J. Rolliver, possibly the most influential man in all of Apex. Indiana seems to enjoy suddenly holding a higher position than Undine, and as this quote reveals, she relishes the opportunity to give Undine advice. Many characters in the story like to give advice or make grand proclamations about morality, but few characters actually take their own advice. Indiana, for example, tells Undine that she should have gotten Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debi
Chapter 30 Quotes
“You couldn’t, up to now; but now you’re going to get married. You’re going to be able to give him a home and a father’s care—and the foreign languages. That’s what I’d say if I was you…His father takes considerable stock in him, don’t he?”
She coloured, a denial on her lips; but she could not shape it. “We’re both awfully fond of him, of course… His father’d never give him up!”
“Just so.” Moffatt’s face had grown as sharp as glass. “You’ve got the Marvells running. All you’ve got to do’s to sit tight and wait for their cheque.” He dropped back to his equestrian seat on the lyre-backed chair.
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This passage includes a conversation between Elmer and Undine, when Elmer first suggests to Undine that she might be able to use her custody of Paul to get Ralph and his family to pay her enough money to afford an annulment (so that she can marry the Catholic French noble Raymond de Chelles). As this quote shows, Undine initially resists Elmer’s suggestion. She doesn’t like taking responsibility for Paul, and she seems to feel that it’s best for everyone if Paul stays with Ralph and his family. But Elmer points out to Undine that there’s no way the Marvell family Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus p
Chapter 38 Quotes
In a window of the long gallery of the chateau de Saint Desert the new Marquise de Chelles stood looking down the poplar avenue into the November rain. It had been raining heavily and persistently for a longer time than she could remember. Day after day the hills beyond the park had been curtained by motionless clouds, the gutters of the long steep roofs had gurgled with a perpetual overflow, the opaque surface of the moat been peppered by a continuous pelting of big drops.
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This passage describes yet another scene in which Undine looks out a window and takes stock of her life. This moment comes not long after Undine’s marriage to the French marquis Raymond de Chelles (made possible by Ralph’s death), during what should be a triumphant time for Undine. But while Undine does briefly enjoy her time with Raymond, she soon finds out that he is not as much of an improvement over her previous husbands as she thought he’d be. Like the Stentorian, Raymond’s chateau at Saint Desert is much more luxurious than what most people will ever experience. Despite Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in.
Chapter 40 Quotes
“Sell it? Sell Saint Desert?”
The suggestion seemed to strike him as something monstrously, almost fiendishly significant: as if her random word had at last thrust into his hand the clue to their whole unhappy difference. Without understanding this, she guessed it from the change in his face: it was as if a deadly solvent had suddenly decomposed its familiar lines.
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This passage conveys Raymond’s indignant reply to Undine’s suggestion that they sell off Raymond’s chateau at Saint Desert. The differences between Raymond and Undine have been clear since the first time they met: he is a Catholic, European aristocrat who comes from old money, while she is a Protestant, American socialite who comes from new money. More broadly, Raymond embodies tradition and patience, while Undine embodies novelty and impulsiveness. While the two of them each ignored their differences for the early part of their marriage, Undine’s suggestion that Raymond sell Saint Desert is Raymond’s breaking point. Now, he realizes that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inven
Chapter 44 Quotes
“Hullo!” he exclaimed, surprised; and as he stood aside to let her enter she saw him draw out his watch and glance at it surreptitiously. He was expecting someone, or he had an engagement elsewhere—something claimed him from which she was excluded. The thought flushed her with sudden resolution. She knew now what she had come for—to keep him from every one else, to keep him for herself alone.
“Don’t send me away!” she said, and laid her hand on his beseechingly.
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This quote describes Elmer’s surprise at Undine showing up at his hotel in Europe and begging him to let her stay. Although Undine’s marriage with Raymond has been failing for a while, this is the climactic moment when Undine makes herself vulnerable by rejecting Raymond and asking Elmer to be with her. Although Undine has never exactly been shy, her time with Raymond made her uncharacteristically passive. Since her early days in New York, Undine has known the value of sitting back and observing, but her traditional, authoritative husband Raymond made Undine act more obediently than she ever had before. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae v
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Raymond de Chelles Character Timeline in The Custom of the Country
The timeline below shows where the character Raymond de Chelles appears in The Custom of the Country. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 19
...he might eventually write to Laura Fairford. He is dining with a French marquis named Raymond de Chelles, and they discuss their thoughts about marriage. Just then, Raymond happens to notice...
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...that Undine wants her privacy with Peter, so he’s surprised when Peter invites him and Raymond to join their dining party. They move to Undine’s table, where she is with some...
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Chapter 20
...feels that the main factor making her enjoy Paris more is her new friendship with Raymond. She finds him attractive, and while she knows that his own attention toward her might...
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...just suddenly disappeared for a couple days, and she tells him she went away to Raymond’s chateau. Peter believes Raymond just wants to “compromise” Undine. Undine replies that, based on his...
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...on a new life. Peter takes this to mean that she is thinking of marrying Raymond. Undine refuses to give a straight answer about this. Just then, a telegram from Laura...
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...seems to imply that the only way she’ll stay in Europe is if she marries Raymond. Peter angrily walks out, and Undine worries she’s gone too far, but then Peter comes...
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Chapter 24
...New York friends have already shunned her over the divorce. Some of her friends feel Raymond would have been a better choice than Peter.
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Undine has not seen Raymond since coming back to Paris this time, preferring to leave any meeting with him up...
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Chapter 27
...gets her attention when she reveals that she is Princess Lili Estradina, the cousin of Raymond. They talk, and the Princess invites Undine to come see her mother. Undine feels that...
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Chapter 28
...see him looking happy, which she finds pitiable. Undine’s thoughts are interrupted when she feels Raymond taking her hand.
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Although Raymond seems as infatuated with Undine as ever, she has learned to be cautious. He just...
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Chapter 29
...is once more in Paris. She feels successful, having declared that she will only see Raymond in the presence of his aunt, the Duchess, a decision that has also raised Undine’s...
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Marrying Raymond will be difficult for Undine, since the Catholic Church doesn’t recognize divorce, meaning that marrying...
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...good man who can be a father to him and begins to cry. Just then, Raymond comes through the door. He introduces her to the concept of annulling a marriage.
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...has been treating Undine like she’s invisible, which really annoys Undine. Eventually, she hears that Raymond’s mother, the Marquise de Chelles, has found out about Undine’s past and disapproves. They believe...
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Chapter 30
A few days after discussing annulment with Raymond, Undine runs into Elmer again. While she wasn’t certain that Elmer noticed her last time,...
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...has something to do with the gentleman she was with in Nice the other day (Raymond). When Undine mentions needing money for an annulment, Elmer makes fun of her, wondering if...
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Chapter 37
...new grandparents’ drawing room, where portraits of ladies and gentlemen hang everywhere on the walls. Raymond encourages Paul to kiss his new grandmother, the Marquise de Chelles. As Undine watches, she’s...
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One thing Undine likes about her new living situation is that Raymond is more willing to admit when he feels more jealous than Ralph ever was, making...
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...themselves turn against Undine, who they believe has caused the growing rift between them and Raymond’s family. The Chelles were themselves skeptical of Undine, but they allowed Raymond to marry her...
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Chapter 38
...but the chateau gave him more space to play outside. But then things change when Raymond’s father dies.
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At first, Undine thought it might be a good thing to see Raymond promoted in his family by his father’s death. But now, during the mourning period, Undine...
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Raymond wants to tend to some family land, and this requires him to be there in...
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One day, Raymond has to go to Paris to sort out some issue with his brother, Hubert de...
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Raymond then reveals that he has allowed for Hubert de Chelles and his future wife to...
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Chapter 39
As more time passes, Undine is surprised and disappointed to see that Raymond is not as different from Ralph as he seems. He also spends his time reading...
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...some Paris friends, Undine gets the idea that perhaps she should have a child with Raymond, since not having a child with him seems to be hurting her reputation. She tells...
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Undine is embarrassed that she can’t convince Raymond to have a child, since she’s used to getting her way with husbands. Her days...
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...let the Chelles keep her shut inside all day. Undine responds that she didn’t know Raymond would be so jealous before she married him. The Princess scoffs at this, suggesting that...
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Chapter 40
Raymond stops commenting on Undine’s high expenses, which Undine takes as confirmation that Princess Estradina was...
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Raymond and Undine each accuse the other of not understanding their needs. Undine suggests that Raymond...
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Chapter 41
Undine is shocked at how little influence she seems to have over Raymond. At one point, she even suggests that if they disagree so much they should separate,...
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At Saint Desert while Raymond is away on a trip, a visitor comes. Undine has been expecting him. The man...
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...asks Elmer why he helped her in the past when she was trying to marry Raymond. Elmer says he doesn’t keep grudges and figured helping Undine might be good for business....
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Chapter 42
...wife leave the Hotel de Chelles to go to a chateau owned by his father-in-law. Raymond agrees to go to Paris for two months, although he puts heavy restrictions on Undine’s...
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Meanwhile, Raymond confronts Undine after he receives a letter from the dealer who came to Saint Desert....
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Chapter 43
Undine watches Raymond leave, knowing that despite their recent argument, he’ll be courteous the next time they see...
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Chapter 44
Undine guessed correctly when she assumed that Raymond would go back to life as usual after their argument the other day. They begin...
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...Undine tells him it was a mistake for the dealer to write a letter to Raymond.
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Chapter 46
Paul still likes Raymond best out of all his fathers, but Raymond has totally disappeared from his life. Elmer...
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Paul happens to notice some tapestries that used to hang in Raymond’s chateau at Saint Desert. Elmer says Paul has a good eye to remember them. Paul...
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