Who is Lafleur from The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman: A Novel and what is their importance?

Lafleur is the Count's assistant. The Count believes Lafleur is a French Canadian who suffers from syphilis that he contracted at birth. Lafleur wears bandages over his face so that no one can see the damage the disease has done to his face. The Count treats Lafleur badly and Desiderio often wonders why the young man remains with the Count. Later, Desiderio will learn that Lafleur is Albertina, sent to watch over the Count by her father. At first Albertina was going to enlist the Count into her father's cause, but later realized he would not be appropriate for that and stayed with him only to keep a watch over him.