Scylla or Charybdis explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Duality and Deception

  Mrs. Whyllie and Imogene deceive Captain Tuffton with a staged shooting, using a blank charge and a hidden pin to simulate a real wound.

• Social Class and Marriage

  Imogene's escape with Denis and Mrs. Whyllie's plan to adopt her highlight the intersection of social standing and romantic union.

• Law and Outlawry

  The Whyllies use coercion and deception to circumvent the legal authority of the press gang, forcing Captain Tuffton to sign documents under duress.

Characters to notice

• Captain Tuffton

  Arrives at the Whyllie home, flirts with Imogene, and is forced to sign papers releasing Denis Cobtree after being shot with a blank charge.

• Imogene

  Flirts with Captain Tuffton, then helps Mrs. Whyllie hold him at gunpoint; escapes with Denis to Dymchurch.

• Mrs. Whyllie

  Orchestrates the scheme to free Denis, firing a blank charge at Captain Tuffton and planning to adopt Imogene.

• Mr. Whyllie

  Assists by retrieving the paper and later digging a pin into Captain Tuffton's shoulder to simulate a wound.

• Denis Cobtree

  Freed from the press gang by Captain Tuffton's signed orders; escapes with Imogene to Dymchurch.

Key passages

• “Captain Tuffton could certainly not complain of his reception, for the lawyer was positively nervous in his endeavours to please, while Mrs. Whyllie, in her anxiety to let bygones be bygones, positively basked in the sunshine of his glory, and as to Imogene—well, she at least had the speedy satisfaction of knowing that her appearance had caused havoc in the heart of the lady-killer.”

  Captain Tuffton was warmly welcomed by the Whyllies, with the lawyer eager to please, Mrs. Whyllie enjoying his attention, and Imogene pleased to have caught his interest.

  Sets up the deceptive hospitality that leads to the captain's entrapment.

• “Thereupon the old lady got up from her chair and pointed a pistol at the captain's head. 'And it's most fortunate, I vow, that your tasselled cane is reposing safely in the hall.'”

  Mrs. Whyllie suddenly aimed a pistol at Captain Tuffton, noting that his only weapon was out of reach.

  Moment of reversal where the captain becomes the victim of the scheme.

• “With the exception of this deep pin prick, there was no mark of a wound, as indeed why should there have been? for Mrs. Whyllie had fired only a blank charge, and the old lawyer, according to careful instructions, had got behind the captain and dug in the pin at the crucial moment.”

  The captain's wound was only a pinprick, as Mrs. Whyllie used a blank charge and Mr. Whyllie secretly stabbed him with a pin.

  Reveals the deception behind the shooting.