The more she thought of the events of the past night, the less fear had she of Chauvelin and his schemes. He had failed to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of that she felt sure. — The Scarlet Pimpernel | Baroness Orczy
We are at the halfway point in Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel, and the evil Citizen Chauvelin’s hunt for The Scarlet Pimpernel heats up as he continues his pursuit of the enigmatic hero. Meanwhile, Marguerite continues to try to save her brother, Armand, as Sir Percy stays steadfast in his disguise as a foppish Englishman.
Today, we learn more of each character’s quest and troubles!
Chapter 17
To begin, chapter 17 brings us even closer to Marguerite’s thoughts and feelings regarding her husband Sir Percy. That is to say, she fears for her brother but can’t stop thinking of her husband longingly, as she has long thought that the character he presents is just a ruse.
When Sir Percy leaves a letter at Marguerite’s door late at night, she follows him to the stables before he can depart and questions him. He admits little, and leaves for business, which has “to do with Armand…” Recognizing his love for her, Marguerite agrees to his dismal and heads back to her room.
We are told: “She felt almost happy now, and, drawing the curtains closely together again to shut out the piercing sun, she went to bed at last, and … like a wearied child, soon fell into a peaceful and dreamless sleep” (Orczy).
Chapter 18
Afterward, Marguerite wakes up refreshed and contemplates the whereabouts of her husband, Sir Percy Blakeney. Learning that he left for London and possibly to board his schooner, the Day Dream, Marguerite is puzzled about his mysterious activities. With an idle day ahead, she anticipates the visit of her friend Suzanne de Tournay, arranged with the Prince of Wales’s approval.
Curiosity leads Marguerite to explore her husband’s private study, a place she seldom enters. Surprised by its severe simplicity, she discovers a meticulously organized desk, challenging the public perception of Sir Percy as a frivolous man. A full-length portrait of Percy’s mother catches her attention due to the striking resemblance between mother and son. Marguerite stumbles upon a gold ring with a star-shaped flower engraving, connecting it to previous sightings at the opera and Lord Grenville’s ball.
As Orczy writes of the room: “She looked round her quite aimlessly now: she was horribly puzzled, and a nameless dread, before all this strange, unaccountable mystery, had begun to seize upon her. She felt cold and uncomfortable suddenly in this severe and dark room. There were no pictures on the wall, save the fine Boucher portrait, only a couple of maps, both of parts of France, one of the North coast and the other of the environs of Paris. What did Sir Percy want with those, she wondered.”
Chapter 19
Marguerite grapples with the revelation that her husband, Sir Percy Blakeney, is the daring Scarlet Pimpernel. She wrestles with shock and disbelief, attempting to rationalize the incongruity between Percy’s public persona and his secret identity. Marguerite, accompanied by her friend Suzanne, learns of Suzanne’s father’s impending rescue by the Scarlet Pimpernel.
As Marguerite thinks on her husband: “How could she imagine that a man who could love with so much intensity as Percy Blakeney had loved her from the first—how could such a man be the brainless idiot he chose to appear? She, at least, ought to have known that he was wearing a mask, and having found that out, she should have torn it from his face, whenever they were alone together” (Orczy).
As the truth sinks in, Marguerite experiences a whirlwind of emotions, realizing the potential consequences of her unwitting betrayal of Percy to Chauvelin. Distraught and panicked, she contemplates her actions and fears for Percy’s life. As she prepares to take decisive action, Marguerite receives a letter from Chauvelin, further escalating the tension and propelling her into a desperate struggle to save Percy.
As the text states: “He would help her where she needed help; her coach was ready. A change of raiment, and a farewell to little Suzanne, and she could be on her way. Without haste, but without hesitation, she walked quietly into the house.”
Chapter 20
In chapter 20, Marguerite rushes to London to warn her husband, Sir Percy, about the imminent danger he faces in Calais. Marguerite has unintentionally betrayed Percy to Chauvelin, an agent of the French government.
She seeks the help of Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, one of Percy’s friends, to prevent the impending trap. Despite initial suspicions, Marguerite convinces Sir Andrew of the urgency and truth of her mission. Together, they plan to reach Percy before Chauvelin does.
In this chapter it states that “she had no time for despair now,” and that “she was up and doing and had no leisure to think,” which meant that “hope had once again revived in her heart” (Orczy).
Chapter 21
Marguerite arrives at “The Fisherman’s Rest” in Dover after a swift journey of less than eight hours, changing horses frequently. Despite the late hour, the innkeepers, Sally and Mr. Jellyband, attend to her with the expected decorum. Marguerite’s sole focus is on warning her husband, Percy, about the danger he faces in Calais. She awaits Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, her ally, who has disguised himself as her lacquey.
“She had seen nothing of Chauvelin on the road,” she thinks. “Her coachman, whom she questioned, had not seen anyone answering the description his mistress gave him of the wizened figure of the little Frenchman.”
The arrival causes a stir, but Marguerite is too absorbed in her mission to worry about gossip. She informs Jellyband that she plans to cross to France at the first turn of the tide and requests accommodations for Sir Andrew and her coachman. However, Sir Andrew brings unwelcome news – a storm prevents any vessels, including Chauvelin’s, from sailing. Marguerite’s desperation to reach Percy clashes with the forces of nature.
As he tells her: “I am afraid it is not a question of cost, Lady Blakeney. There is a nasty storm blowing from France, the wind is dead against us, we cannot possibly sail until it has changed.”
Despite the setback, Sir Andrew’s hint suggests that Chauvelin is also stranded in Dover. Marguerite realizes the storm might have disrupted Chauvelin’s plans as well. The inability to sail becomes a temporary respite for both parties, but Marguerite’s anxiety remains. She contemplates the loneliness of the room and the relentless ticking of the clock as she awaits Sir Andrew, who arrives in lacquey disguise.
The text states: “Sir Andrew had persuaded her to sit down to the table, to partake of some supper and to drink a little wine. This enforced rest of at least twelve hours, until the next tide, was sure to be terribly difficult to bear in the state of intense excitement in which she was. Obedient in these small matters like a child, Marguerite tried to eat and drink.”
Marguerite’s distress is evident, but Sir Andrew tries to console her. He suggests that Chauvelin is likely facing the same predicament. The two share a meal, and Sir Andrew lifts Marguerite’s spirits by recounting the daring exploits of the Scarlet Pimpernel. The storm, however, keeps Marguerite in a state of anxious waiting, torn between hope and fear. As the night progresses, she contemplates the possibility of Percy’s location and the storm’s impact on their plans.
“It was long past midnight when at last Marguerite retired to rest,” Baroness Orczy writes. “As she had feared, sleep sedulously avoided her eyes. Her thoughts were of the blackest during these long, weary hours, whilst that incessant storm raged which was keeping her away from Percy.”
Chapter 22
Marguerite, exhausted and desperate, has endured a harrowing journey to reach Calais in pursuit of her husband, Sir Percy Blakeney. She is accompanied by Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, who, despite his own anxiety, offers her steadfast support. The storm that had delayed their departure from Dover has finally subsided, and they have boarded a schooner named the Foam Crest, headed for France.
Regarding her mental anguish: “Marguerite had spent over fifteen hours in such acute mental torture as well-nigh drove her crazy. After a sleepless night, she rose early, wild with excitement, dying to start on her journey, terrified lest further obstacles lay in her way. She rose before anyone else in the house was astir, so frightened was she, lest she should miss the one golden opportunity of making a start.”
As they approach the French coast, Marguerite is struck by the visible signs of the revolution: men wearing red caps, an atmosphere of fear and distrust, and the ominous phrase “Sacrés aristos!” murmured by the locals. Despite the grim surroundings, they land safely in Calais, where Marguerite’s thoughts are consumed by the perilous situation in Paris, where countless lives are being lost to the guillotine.
The pair navigates the narrow and unpleasant streets of Calais, heading towards Cap Gris Nez, searching for the elusive “Chat Gris.” They arrive at a dilapidated inn where Sir Andrew believes they may find Sir Percy. The inn, owned by a surly character named Brogard, is a dismal place with broken furniture, stained walls, and an overpowering stench.
Marguerite and Sir Andrew attempt to gather information from Brogard, who is uncooperative and disdainful. The mention of a tall Englishman who recently ordered supper and went out to get a horse and cart catches Marguerite’s attention. Overwhelmed with relief and joy, she learns that Sir Percy is expected to return.
Despite the squalor and discomfort, Marguerite tries to compose herself, appreciating the small reprieve offered by the soup and wine served by Brogard. She eagerly anticipates the imminent return of her husband, who is apparently in Calais and, remarkably, not in disguise.
Chapter 23
Next, Sir Andrew warns Marguerite that Chauvelin is close behind them in Calais. Chauvelin has obtained the plans for the latest rescue mission, putting Percy and the other members of the league at grave risk. Marrguerite falls to despair, and realizes that the “terrible danger in which Percy stood … became suddenly and horribly clear to her.”
As Marguerite and Sir Andrew discuss the situation, the emotional weight of the impending danger becomes palpable. Marguerite’s focus on Percy’s safety shifts to concern for her brother, Armand, and the other fugitives awaiting rescue. The tension is heightened by the limited time they have to warn Percy before Chauvelin catches up with them.
At the end of the chapter, Marguerite climbs into a loft and hides, waiting for a special guest to arrive, with Sir Andrew watching “her until she had reached the loft” and she “pulled the tattered curtains across,” which gave her an excellent place for “seeing and hearing, whilst remaining observed” (Orczy).
Chapter 24
Tension escalates as Marguerite Blakeney observes the seemingly mundane preparations for a meal in the inn, believing them to be for her husband, Percy. However, her optimism is shattered when Chauvelin, the antagonist, arrives at the inn with his secretary Desgas. Chauvelin’s cunning plan to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel and the fugitive royalists becomes clear to Marguerite. The inn, seemingly empty and awaiting Percy’s arrival, is now a trap set by Chauvelin, with patrols and reinforcements in place to apprehend the elusive hero.
Marguerite’s desperation intensifies as she comprehends the gravity of the situation. Chauvelin’s sinister glee and hatred toward Percy accentuate the impending danger. Marguerite, hidden in the room above, is helpless as she hears Chauvelin’s orders to Desgas, realizing that Percy and the fugitives are walking into a meticulously orchestrated trap.
As Chauvelin states: ‘The men,’ he continued, ‘are to keep the sharpest possible look-out for any stranger who may be walking, riding, or driving, along the road or the beach, more especially for a tall stranger, whom I need not describe further, as probably he will be disguised; but he cannot very well conceal his height, except by stooping. You understand?’
‘Perfectly, citoyen,’ replied Desgas.”
As Chauvelin relishes his vengeful anticipation, a stark contrast emerges when a cheerful voice singing “God save the King” reaches Marguerite’s ears.
Analysis
These chapters act on Marguerite’s feelings. No longer is she sitting by the wayside while Sir Percy saves French aristocrats, but she is actually venturing to France to save her husband. Additionally, we see the Chauvelin return in all of his malicious intent, as he sets a trap for The Scarlet Pimpernel.
These chapters are layered in multiple themes, from danger and intrigue to love and sacrifice. For example, Marguerite’s journey to France is steeped in danger, as she looks for her husband on the soil of a country that is actively murdering its people. Yet, she does so in the face of danger. Sir Percy, meanwhile, “loves all mankind” and so thrusts himself into danger to free French aristocracy in the name of justice, even though it comes at a great cost to his safety and those around him.
Works Cited
Orczy, Baroness Emma. The Scarlet Pimpernel. Penguin Books, 1982. Print.
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