Beauvallet · Chapter
XX explained
Dominica and her aunt flee Madrid in a coach, with Dominica riding part of the way for freedom.
What happens
Dominica and her aunt flee Madrid in a coach, with Dominica riding part of the way for freedom. Their journey is interrupted by masked riders who stage a fake attack; Dominica is captured and taken to a lodge, while Doña Beatrice suspects her son Don Diego is behind the scheme.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Risk
Dominica's escape and the staged attack highlight the dangers and uncertainties of her journey.
Power and Authority
Don Diego's orchestration of the capture demonstrates his control over the situation, while Doña Beatrice's calm observation shows her own authority.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Dominica feels like a traitress for fleeing Beauvallet, and the guards' complicity in the staged attack suggests betrayal.
Characters to notice
- Doña Dominica de Rada y Sylva
Flees Madrid with her aunt, rides for exercise, and is captured by masked riders during a staged attack.
- Doña Beatrice de Carvalho
Organizes the hasty journey, observes the attack calmly, and deduces her son Don Diego is behind the capture.
- Don Diego de Carvalho
Implied to have orchestrated the masked attack to capture Dominica, though not present in the chapter.
- Joshua Dimmock
Mentioned as having advised Dominica to flee; his optimism cannot allay her fears.
- Carmelita
Doña Beatrice's tirewoman, who screams in fear during the attack.
Key passages
“The big coach that bore Dominica away from Madrid pushed northwards with what speed it could make.”
The large carriage carrying Dominica hurried north from Madrid as fast as possible.
Describes the beginning of their escape journey.
“She slashed at the masked face with her whip; the leather thong cut the mask across, and revealed an unshaven chin, a thick nose, and the fast rising weal of the whiplash.”
Dominica struck the masked man with her whip, tearing the mask and exposing his unshaven face and a fresh welt.
Shows Dominica's fierce resistance during the attack.
“A woman should know her own son.”
A mother can recognize her own child.
Doña Beatrice realizes Don Diego is behind the attack.