“Tears now refused to be held back. All her trouble, struggles, and the awful uncertainty of Armand’s fate overwhelmed her. She tottered, ready to fall, and leaning against the stone balustrade, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed bitterly.” — The Scarlet Pimpernel | Baroness Orczy
Greetings, and welcome once again to The Reading of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Today on the blog, we are going to focus on chapters 9-16, where the action heats up considerably, placing us amidst a series of intrigue and danger.
Let us not tarry longer than necessary!
Chapter 9
To begin, Chapter 9 sets us off on a starlit night after a day of rain (symbolism apparent!). Sir Percy Blakeney and Lady Blakeney embark on a fifty-mile drive in a coach. The drive is a source of delight for Lady Blakeney, who appreciates the solitude and the skilled driving of Sir Percy. We also pivot back to “The Fisherman’s Rest,” inn where Mr. Jellyband is preparing for the night. The Comtesse de Tournay, along with other important guests, is staying there, and Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and Lord Antony Dewhurst plan their covert meeting.
In the dimly lit coffee-room, Sir Andrew and Lord Antony discuss their recent mission with the Scarlet Pimpernel. They share details of the escape of the Comte de Tournay and the danger posed by a new agent named Chauvelin. The conversation gets serious as they discuss the need for caution due to increased surveillance.
Unbeknownst to them, a stealthy figure, later revealed as an enemy, eavesdrops on their conversation. Suddenly, the intruders attack, rendering the two young men helpless. The assailants quickly seize important documents and leave with their captives.
Chapter 10
In this chapter, we find a new set of characters at Covent Garden Theatre. The house is filled with various social classes, enjoying a performance of Gluck’s Orpheus. We are introduced to notable figures like Mr. Pitt, the Prince of Wales, and Lord Grenville, the Foreign Secretary of State. Additionally, we meet Comtesse de Tournay de Basserive, a French royalist emigre, and she begins talks with Lady Portarles and Lord Grenville.
The conversation touches upon the dire situation in France, with reports of massacres and the guillotine claiming numerous victims daily. The Comtesse expresses concern for her husband, who is still in France, while Lord Grenville reassures her about the Scarlet Pimpernel’s commitment to bringing him safely across the Channel.
The tension rises as the discussion turns to the presence of Chauvelin, the French spy. Lady Portarles and Lord Grenville express skepticism about his role and intentions, setting the stage for further political intrigue and the impending events at Lord Grenville’s ball.
Chapter 11
Continuing, the historic ball hosted by Lord Grenville, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is a high point for London. Attendees, including the Prince of Wales, have gathered at the Foreign Office’s grand rooms. The ball is a dazzling affair, with dancing and lively chatter filling the air. In a smaller chamber near the elegant staircase, Chauvelin, the envoy of the Revolutionary Government of France, stands somewhat isolated due to the anti-French sentiments in England.
Chauvelin, indifferent to social snubs, passionately despises French aristocrats who escape the Reign of Terror. His hatred centers on the Scarlet Pimpernel (you can really see a mustache-twirling antagonist here). Chauvelin is determined to unveil the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel and bring him to justice. As the Prince of Wales arrives, Chauvelin is introduced, prompting an exchange of pleasantries and veiled hostilities between Marguerite Blakeney and the Comtesse de Tournay.
As the book states: “The Comtesse de Tournay, who lately had so flagrantly insulted her, was here receiving a public lesson, at which Marguerite could not help but rejoice. But the Comtesse, for whom respect of royalty amounted almost to a religion, was too well-schooled in courtly etiquette to show the slightest sign of embarrassment, as the two ladies curtsied ceremoniously to one another.”
Additionally, even the Prince of Wales tells the prying Chauvelin that his “lips are sealed!”
Chapter 12
Next, Marguerite, despite her typical demeanor, experiences intense pain at the ball. She feels condemned, and her nerves are on edge, especially after a brief encounter with her husband, Sir Percy Blakeney, who fails to provide support. The Prince of Wales and others at the ball mockingly repeat a quatrain about the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, further adding to her distress.
Afterward, Marguerite notices Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and Lord Antony Dewhurst. She learns from Suzanne de Tournay, a recent French exile, that the league plans to rescue Suzanne’s family from France. Curious, Marguerite wants to know the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel for her own sake.
When she catches Sir Andrew receiving a mysterious note, she suspects it may hold the key to saving her brother Armand’s life. After a brief distraction involving a burning note, Marguerite successfully inspects the contents, a dozen words with a red star-shaped flower.
Chapter 13
In chapter 13, Marguerite reads a partially burnt note revealing a message about someone starting a journey the next day and a rendezvous at the supper-room at one o’clock. The note is signed with the familiar star-shaped flower. The urgency of the situation weighs heavily on Marguerite, as she has only two hours to decide whether to keep the information to herself or betray the Scarlet Pimpernel to save her brother Armand.
While dancing the minuet with Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, Marguerite grapples with conflicting emotions. Her thoughts bounce between the noble and unsuspecting Armand, who trusts her, and the life of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a stranger whom she could betray to save her brother. Despite this, Marguerite successfully allays Sir Andrew’s concerns and maintains a composed facade.
After the dance, she asks him to join her at a water-party on Wednesday but senses his hesitation; likewise, she hints at the importance of him staying in London. The Prince of Wales interrupts, offering his arm to Marguerite for supper, and expresses his discontent with Sir Percy Blakeney’s luck at card tables.
Chapter 14
Supper at Lord Grenville’s is lively, with Lady Blakeney in high spirits while Sir Percy entertains everyone through wit and charm. The Prince of Wales is amused by Sir Percy’s verses about the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite conceals her true feelings of the moment as the clock ticks towards midnight, the time when the destinies of her brother Armand and the elusive hero will be decided.
Despite the festive atmosphere, Marguerite is burdened by the terrible decision she made earlier. The clock keeps ticking, and dancing resumes after supper. Marguerite, exhausted from her self-control, retreats to a boudoir with a Cabinet Minister, avoiding a meeting with Chauvelin. Nevertheless, Chauvelin enters the room, and Marguerite reluctantly reveals the information she obtained from Sir Andrew Ffoulkes. Chauvelin plans to use the intelligence to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel…and Armand will be safe.
Chauvelin departs to set his trap, leaving Marguerite in despair. Next, Chauvelin awaits the arrival of the Scarlet Pimpernel, confident that he will capture the elusive hero. Sir Percy Blakeney lies in oblivious slumber nearby, unaware of the impending danger. Chauvelin, adopting a similar pose, waits patiently for the mysterious figure to walk into the trap.
Chapter 15
Marguerite, filled with anticipation and anxiety, waits in a deserted boudoir, her mind consumed by what is to transpire. Lord Fancourt finds her, delivering her message to Sir Percy, who is found asleep in the dining-room. As Lord Fancourt attempts to engage her in conversation, Marguerite’s thoughts remain distant. She eventually asks him about the dining-room, realizing the critical moment is passing. Lord Fancourt provides details, and Marguerite becomes increasingly restless as Chauvelin does not appear.
When Lord Fancourt offers to check if her coach is ready, Marguerite agrees, feeling more and more anxious. She contemplates the consequences of failure and fears for Armand’s life. Chauvelin’s delay heightens her anxiety, and she wonders if the plan has failed. When he finally arrives, Marguerite seizes the opportunity to question him. Chauvelin’s responses remain cryptic, leaving her uncertain about the success of their mission.
As they descend the stairs, Marguerite tries to extract more information from Chauvelin, desperate for some hope regarding Armand’s fate. Chauvelin maintains his enigmatic demeanor, revealing nothing concrete.
Chapter 16
In this passage, Marguerite finds herself in a nightly ritual with her husband, Sir Percy Blakeney, after social events in London. Seated on the box-seat of their coach, they speed along moonlit roads toward their grand home by the river. Despite Sir Percy’s seemingly foppish demeanor, his skillful handling of the spirited horses and focused demeanor hint at a deeper, more complex character.
Later, Marguerite, yearning for comfort and understanding, encounters her husband on the lawn, his ghostly white costume against the dark backdrop symbolizing the enigma that surrounds their relationship. In an intense exchange between Marguerite and Sir Percy, Marguerite attempts to reconcile the growing distance in their marriage. She intercepts Sir Percy as he tries to leave, urging him to stay and engage in a midnight conversation. Sir Percy, though initially calm and gallant, reveals a bitterness beneath the surface. He accuses Marguerite of potentially seeking to toy with his emotions once more, harkening back to a painful incident from the previous year.
Overwhelmed with regret, Marguerite attempts to reconcile with him, sharing the painful events that led to her estrangement. Percy, though initially aloof, is visibly affected by her distress. Marguerite implores him for help, revealing that her brother, Armand, is in grave danger. Despite their complex history, Percy agrees to assist, promising Armand’s safety.
Analysis
Over the course of these chapters, we see the wit and wisdom of The Scarlet Pimpernel in play, while also sensing Marguerite as a character. She cares deeply for her brother, and her disdain for her husband is apparent; however, she is a dynamic character. She is not any one thing. She loves Sir Percy but loathes his stupidity, and while she has no allegiance to The Scarlet Pimpernel, she recognizes him as a symbol of hope for England and the aristocrats of France.
Chauvelin, meanwhile, is a dastardly crook who is willing to do anything to get what he wants from his enemies. Already, he has blackmailed, robbed, and lied his way through the English aristocracy to get to The Scarlet Pimpernel. His very appearance has unsettled many of the royals and elitists.
Lastly, these chapters are an examination of a complex marriage. One that is full of truths and untruths. The Scarlet Pimpernel is her husband and her husband is the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite, meanwhile, knows her brother is in great danger, and yet she persists in struggling with the moral conundrum of The Scarlet Pimpernel himself.
Though, after great trauma, the world tends to soften: “She made a violent effort to control herself, and turning her tear-stained face to him, she once more held out her hand, which he kissed with the same punctilious gallantry; but Marguerite’s fingers, this time, lingered in his hand for a second or two longer than was absolutely necessary, and this was because she had felt that his hand trembled perceptibly and was burning hot, whilst his lips felt as cold as marble.”
Works Cited
Orczy, Baroness Emma. The Scarlet Pimpernel. Penguin Books, 1982. Print.
Leave a Reply