# Under Arrest explained — I Will Repay

> Chapter companion for I Will Repay by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Merlin and his men search Déroulède's house but find nothing incriminating, though Juliette has left burnt paper fragments in her room. Déroulède is arrested and taken before the Committee of Public Safety, while the mob outside shows support for him. Juliette, having confessed her betrayal, prepares for atonement.

## Themes in this chapter

### Betrayal and Trust

Juliette's betrayal of Déroulède is central; her act of leaving burnt paper fragments leads to his arrest, while Déroulède feels shame and relief.

### Redemption and Forgiveness

Juliette seeks atonement through her confession and humiliation, kneeling before Déroulède in repentance.

### Mob Mentality and Populism

The mob outside supports Déroulède, jeering at Merlin and threatening violence, but Déroulède pacifies them, aware of the fickleness of popular passion.

## Character check-ins

### Juliette de Marny

Rises from her act of humiliation and repentance, ready for atonement; she has left burnt paper fragments in her room and expects arrest.

### Paul Déroulède

Arrested by Merlin; feels relief and shame over Juliette's betrayal; bids farewell to his mother and Anne Mie; pacifies the mob outside.

### Citizen Merlin

Leads the search, finds no proofs against Déroulède but arrests him anyway; returns to the house after Déroulède leaves.

### Madame Déroulède

Bid goodbye by Déroulède before his arrest.

### Anne Mie

Her hand is pressed warmly by Déroulède as he says goodbye.

## Key lines

> She had accomplished her act of humiliation and repentance, there before them all.

Juliette completed her public display of humility and remorse in front of everyone.

_Shows Juliette's determination to atone for her betrayal._

> Merlin had not found the letter-case. Juliette, stricken with tardy remorse perhaps, had succeeded in concealing it.

Merlin did not discover the letter-case; Juliette, possibly feeling late regret, managed to hide it.

_Reveals Juliette's ambiguous role in the search outcome._

> He well knew that those whom he incited against Merlin now would, once their blood was up, probably turn against him in less than half-an-hour.

Déroulède understood that if he roused the crowd against Merlin, they might soon turn on him.

_Demonstrates Déroulède's wisdom about mob psychology._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/i_will_repay_se/chapters/xvi-under-arrest
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/i_will_repay_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/i_will_repay_se/chapters