In the novel Sparkling Cyanide, Charles is the head waiter at Luxembourg. He has worked there for many years and is well known by the guests. George Barton thought it very unlikely that Charles had poisoned Rosemary. Colonel Race also knows Charles, and finds it impossible to imagine him deliberately poisoning a client.
Charles is the uncle of Pierre, a junior waiter who picked up Iris Marle's purse when it fell to the floor and replaced it on the table. However, Charles does not show any favouritism to Pierre, hissing, cursing, and swearing at him more than he does at the others.
When George is planning a dinner party to celebrate Iris Marle's birthday, he goes to the Luxembourg to discuss the preparations with Charles. Charles says that he has the rosemary which George had wanted as a table decoration, and suggests adding some red berries or chrysanthemums, as the rosemary will not be very decorative on its own.
When George is leaving, Charles accompanies him to the door. He tells George that they appreciate him coming back to the Luxembourg, and mentions how shocked and grieved they were when Rosemary died. He says that he hopes Iris will have a happy birthday party, and that everything will be as George likes it. After saying this, Charles bows gracefully, and darts away "like an angry dragon-fly" on a waiter who is doing something wrong.
When the Barton party arrives for the dinner at the Luxembourg, Charles shows them to their table, although Giuseppe is the one who waits on them.
After George's death, Giuseppe tells Chief Inspector Kemp and Colonel Race that Charles has been kind to him.
Portrayals[]
Sparkling Cyanide (1983)[]
In the 1983 Warner Bros adaptation Charles was portrayed by Eric Sinclair. Here, he is present after in the scene after Rosemary's death where Captain Kemp tells him he needs to have statements from all the waiters who served at the table. Charles tells Kemp that the party had not been at the table for very long, and nothing had been consumed except the champagne and in fact only one bottle of champagne had been served. In this adaptation, the busboy who picks up Iris's purse is unnamed.
Sparkling Cyanide (2003)[]
In ITV's 2003 adaptation of the novel, the parallel character is credited simply as "Maitre d'" and is portrayed by Richard Clifford. He is seen in the early scenes at the night club where he receives instructions from George Barton and later from Ruth Lessing. AI comparisons also suggests that he is the person who picks up Iris Marle's purse and puts it back on the table during the second dinner.