# The Gate of La Villette explained — El Dorado

> Chapter companion for El Dorado by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Armand St. Just, disguised as a laborer, waits at the Gate of La Villette for Sir Percy Blakeney, who has gone to find information about Jeanne Lange's arrest. As the gates close and Percy fails to appear, Armand is tormented by visions of Jeanne being led to the guillotine. Overcome by anxiety and love, he resolves to save Jeanne himself, abandoning his oath of loyalty to Percy and the League.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Loyalty

Armand's love for Jeanne overrides his loyalty to Percy and the League, leading him to abandon his oath and plan a solo rescue.

### Betrayal and Guilt

Armand feels guilt for obeying Percy's command to leave Paris, and his decision to break his promise is a form of betrayal to the League.

### Identity and Disguise

Armand, Sir Andrew, and Lord Tony all work disguised as coal-heavers, and Armand later adopts the persona of a laborer to blend in at the gate.

## Character check-ins

### Armand St. Just

Disguised as a coal-heaver, Armand waits anxiously at the gate for Percy, but his fear for Jeanne drives him to abandon his oath and resolve to rescue her himself.

### Sir Percy Blakeney

Expected to arrive at the gate with news of Jeanne, but fails to appear, leaving Armand in despair.

### Jeanne Lange

The object of Armand's love and worry; she is under arrest, and Armand has a prophetic vision of her being taken to the guillotine.

### Sir Andrew Ffoulkes

Works alongside Armand as a coal-heaver during the day but disappears, leaving Armand without a confidant.

### Lord Tony

Mentioned as working nearby; he slips away during the day after receiving the chief's instructions.

## Key lines

> It was not for Percy, who did not know her, to save Jeanne or to guard her. That task was Armand’s, who worshipped her, and who would gladly die beside her if he failed to rescue her from threatened death.

Armand believed that saving Jeanne was his responsibility alone, not Percy's, because he loved her deeply and was willing to die with her if he could not save her.

_Armand rationalizes his decision to abandon the League's plan, prioritizing his personal love over collective duty._

> He saw it all quite plainly, for the darkness had vanished, and the vision was more vivid than even reality could have been. The rattle of wheels grew louder, and presently the cart debouched on the open place. Men and women sat huddled up in the cart; but in the midst of them a woman stood, and her eyes were fixed upon Armand.

Armand had a vivid, prophetic vision of a tumbril carrying prisoners to the guillotine, with Jeanne standing in the cart, staring directly at him.

_This vision intensifies Armand's desperation and convinces him that he must act immediately to save Jeanne._

> Therefore he forgot his promise⁠—his oath; he forgot those very things which the leader had entreated him to remember⁠—his duty to the others, his loyalty, his obedience. Jeanne had first claim on him.

Armand set aside his oath and duty to the League, deciding that his love for Jeanne was more important than his loyalty to Percy and the other members.

_Highlights the central conflict between love and loyalty that drives Armand's actions in this chapter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xv-the-gate-of-la-villette
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters