# What Love Can Do explained — El Dorado

> Chapter companion for El Dorado by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Jeanne Lange uses her charm and wit to deflect suspicion from Armand St. Just during a visit from the spy Héron, but their budding romance is interrupted when soldiers arrive to arrest Armand. Jeanne quickly improvises a love scene to disguise their true purpose, demonstrating her courage and resourcefulness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Loyalty

Jeanne's quick thinking and willingness to risk her own safety for Armand demonstrate the power of love and loyalty in the face of danger.

### Identity and Disguise

Jeanne uses her role as an actress to disguise her true intentions, performing a love scene to deceive the soldiers.

## Character check-ins

### Jeanne Lange

Uses her acting skills and feminine wiles to manipulate Héron and later devises a love scene to protect Armand from arrest.

### Armand St. Just

Falls under Jeanne's spell, kneeling at her feet and sharing a romantic moment before the arrival of soldiers interrupts them.

### Héron

Visits Jeanne's lodgings to investigate Armand, but is distracted by Jeanne's coquettish behavior and leaves without arresting him.

### Madame Belhomme

Panics when soldiers arrive, but is calmed and directed by Jeanne to open the door and delay the soldiers.

## Key lines

> I felt so honoured last night, citizen, that you even forgot little Capet in order to come and watch my debut as Célimène.

Jeanne flatters Héron by suggesting he was so captivated by her performance that he neglected his duty to watch the Dauphin.

_Jeanne uses flattery to manipulate Héron and divert his attention from Armand._

> A love-scene, she whispered rapidly, a love-scene—quick—do you know one?

Jeanne urgently asks Armand to pretend they are rehearsing a romantic play to fool the soldiers.

_Jeanne's quick thinking turns a moment of romance into a strategic disguise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-ix-what-love-can-do
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters