Granted he is a arrogant SOB at times. However I think it was this line: "He was a man of excellent heart and irreproachable conscience." I could read that a few ways. One--Leroux is just thumbing his nose at the class system again. Two, either Philippe thinks he can do no wrong so to hell with the world, or three gives others the benefit of the doubt despite being "haughty" to fellow men and somewhat of a ladies man).

I liked his devotion to his brother and feel he acted in his best interests. My passion lies in history so I looked at his character from a deeper historical standpoint (wondering what he might have gone through in France during his upbringing. By the time Raoul was coming into the rights of his title and money, the power of nobility was on the way out) Raoul was about to dash off when he was 20 years old. (I believe the mention of him being 21 was a typo as if Raoul was 21 he would already be in control of his finances and not under the thumb of Philippe.) So I think Philippe was acting in with his heart when Raoul wanted to fall in love with a diva. They came from the same family--but were so opposite. 20 years between them, different eras of the class system, different time in military service (This from my research)

This was just a lot of mystery around this character that I enjoyed.

Mav