Patrick

Patrick is the Duke of Buckingham's confidential valet, the most trusted servant in the duke's household and the sole intermediary through whom Buckingham conducts his most secret affairs. He appears at pivotal moments in the narrative, always as the gatekeeper who controls access to his master and as the silent witness to the duke's private passions and violent death.

Identity and Role

Patrick is introduced as the duke's "confidential valet" who "had accompanied him in all his voyages" and "spoke French perfectly well" . When d'Artagnan arrives in London seeking Buckingham, he first seeks out Patrick, who immediately grasps the urgency of the situation and personally guides the young Frenchman to Windsor, where the duke is hawking with the king (E02611-E02612). Patrick's authority within Buckingham's household is absolute: he is the one who summons the jeweler and the secretary when the duke needs to replace the stolen diamond studs, and he executes orders "with a mute promptitude which showed him accustomed to obey blindly and without reply" (E02650-E02652).

Role in the Diamond Studs Affair

When Buckingham discovers that two of the queen's diamond studs have been stolen, it is Patrick whom he summons first, calling out his name and ordering him to bring the jeweler and the secretary . Patrick's presence is so integral to the duke's operations that Buckingham places a sentinel at every door with orders to admit "nobody upon any pretense but his VALET DE CHAMBRE, Patrick" . This trust extends to the most sensitive matters: Patrick is the one who brings the casket containing the queen's portrait and the remaining studs when the duke kneels before them in his private chapel .

Witness to the Assassination

Patrick is present during the final, fatal encounter between Felton and Buckingham. When Felton enters the duke's closet bearing a letter from Lord de Winter, Patrick introduces him and then withdraws at Buckingham's command, remaining "within sound of the bell" . When the duke cries out for help after being stabbed, Patrick rushes in and screams "Murder!" . In the dying moments, Patrick obeys the duke's final orders, bringing the silver casket that once held the diamond studs and the white satin scent bag embroidered with the queen's cipher (E07355-E07356). After Buckingham's death, it is Patrick who utters the loud cry that brings the crowd rushing back into the chamber .

Narrative Significance

Patrick functions as the indispensable connective tissue between Buckingham and the outside world, particularly in matters concerning the queen. His perfect French and his intimate knowledge of the duke's affairs make him the natural conduit for d'Artagnan's mission. He is the only servant permitted into the duke's most private moments—the chapel where Buckingham worships the queen's portrait, the closet where he receives secret messengers, and the deathbed where he dictates his final bequests. Through Patrick's silent presence, the reader gains access to Buckingham's inner world without the duke ever having to explain his arrangements to an outsider.