# XXX: Afterwards explained — El Dorado

> Chapter companion for El Dorado by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

After her visit to Percy in prison, Marguerite is tormented by grief and anxiety. Chauvelin tries to manipulate her into persuading Percy's friends to surrender the Dauphin in exchange for his release. Marguerite resists, holding onto the promise she made to Percy and the precious packet hidden on her person. As she leaves, she catches a glimpse of her brother Armand moving furtively through the prison corridors, raising her fears for his safety.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Loyalty

Marguerite's internal struggle between her desperate love for Percy and her loyalty to his cause and promise.

### Betrayal and Guilt

Chauvelin attempts to make Marguerite betray her husband; her guilt over possibly endangering Armand adds to her anguish.

### Sacrifice and Redemption

Marguerite chooses to honor Percy's sacrifice and her promise, even at the cost of her own happiness.

## Character check-ins

### Marguerite Blakeney

Torn between her longing to see Percy again and her duty to keep his promise; she resists Chauvelin's manipulation and worries about Armand's safety.

### Chauvelin

Attempts to coerce Marguerite into betraying Percy's cause; he observes her reactions with cold irony and reveals details about Héron's prison visits.

### Armand St. Just

Seen moving furtively through the prison corridors, trying to avoid detection; Marguerite fears he is walking into danger.

### Sir Percy Blakeney

Though not physically present, his memory and his final plea to Marguerite dominate her thoughts and actions.

### Héron

Mentioned by Chauvelin as the zealous colleague who visits Percy four times daily to inspect the guards.

## Key lines

> The very thought of seeing Percy on the morrow was solace to her aching heart; it could feed on hope tonight instead of on its own bitter pain.

Just the idea of seeing Percy the next day comforted her, allowing her to cling to hope rather than despair.

_Marguerite's emotional conflict between the desire to see Percy and her duty to keep her promise._

> The promise which she had given him, that would she fulfil. The burden which he had laid on her shoulders she would try to bear as heroically as he was bearing his own.

She was determined to keep the promise she made to him and to endure her burden with the same courage he showed.

_Marguerite resolves to honor Percy's last request despite her personal suffering._

> You and your friends are applying the last turn of the thumbscrew, not I—

Chauvelin accuses Marguerite and her allies of being the ones applying pressure, not him.

_Chauvelin's manipulative sophistry as he tries to shift blame onto Marguerite._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx-afterwards
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters