El Dorado · Chapter
The Bitterest Foe explained
Marguerite Blakeney confronts Chauvelin, who proposes a deal: Sir Percy's freedom in exchange for the return of the Dauphin.
What happens
Marguerite Blakeney confronts Chauvelin, who proposes a deal: Sir Percy's freedom in exchange for the return of the Dauphin. Marguerite refuses, realizing the psychological toll of Percy's imprisonment. Later, alone, she struggles with despair but clings to hope, watching the Conciergerie from her window.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Loyalty
Marguerite's unwavering loyalty to Percy drives her refusal of Chauvelin's deal, despite her anguish.
Betrayal and Guilt
Chauvelin's manipulative proposal and Marguerite's sense of helplessness evoke themes of betrayal and guilt.
Power and Corruption
Chauvelin's use of Percy's imprisonment to leverage a political deal illustrates the corrupting nature of power.
Characters to notice
- Marguerite Blakeney
Confronts Chauvelin, refuses his deal, and later weeps in anguish while watching the Conciergerie.
- Chauvelin
Visits Marguerite to propose exchanging Percy's freedom for the Dauphin, revealing his psychological strategy.
- Sir Percy Blakeney
Imprisoned in the Conciergerie for a week; his weakened state is implied by Chauvelin.
- Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
Leaves to gather news of Armand, promising to return by nine.
- Armand St. Just
Mentioned as a source of worry for Marguerite; Sir Andrew seeks news of him.
Key passages
“Sir Percy is in the Conciergerie, guarded day and night, more closely than Marie Antoinette even was guarded.”
Chauvelin tells Marguerite that Percy is under the tightest security in the Conciergerie.
Chauvelin emphasizes Percy's captivity to pressure Marguerite.
“I don't think that I quite understand... You want my husband—the Scarlet Pimpernel, citizen—to deliver the little King of France to you after he has risked his life to save the child out of your clutches?”
Marguerite expresses disbelief at Chauvelin's demand for Percy to betray the Dauphin.
Marguerite's shock highlights the moral conflict of the proposal.
“We need not fear that he will escape. I doubt if he could walk very steadily across this room now.”
Chauvelin implies Percy is physically weakened after a week in prison.
This remark deepens Marguerite's despair about Percy's condition.