# The Bitterest Foe explained — El Dorado

> Chapter companion for El Dorado by Baroness Orczy.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-the-bitterest-foe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters