One of my all-time favorite characters is Le Cagot from Shibumi by Trevanian.
https://www.amazon.com/Shibumi-Novel-Trevanian/dp/1400098033
Up there with Edna from the Incredibles.
https://www.amazon.com/Shibumi-Novel-Trevanian/dp/1400098033
Up there with Edna from the Incredibles.
Edit: I just remembered the Author's Note at the front of the book saying something like, "With the exception of <three people including Le Cagot>, none of the characters in this book are real -- though they may not know it." Unfortunately Google Books doesn't show that page.