# XXVI: Sentence of Death explained — I Will Repay

> Chapter companion for I Will Repay by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Paul Déroulède and Juliette Marny are tried and condemned to death by the Revolutionary Tribunal. Déroulède watches the crowd that once adored him turn against him, while his heart is torn between misery at failing to save Juliette and joy at dying beside her. Juliette defiantly proclaims her prayer for the Queen and the overthrow of the Reign of Terror, sealing her fate. Both are sentenced with callous speed and led away under escort.

## Themes in this chapter

### Revenge and Justice

The trial is a travesty of justice, driven by revenge against Déroulède and Juliette, with no real defense allowed.

### Love and Sacrifice

Déroulède's heart is filled with love and pity for Juliette; he finds joy in dying beside her, seeing her as an innocent martyr.

### Mob Mentality and Populism

The crowd that once adored Déroulède now turns in hatred against him, illustrating the fickleness of popular opinion.

## Character check-ins

### Paul Déroulède

Condemned to death; watches his popularity die and feels both misery and exultant joy at dying beside Juliette.

### Juliette de Marny

Condemned to death after defiantly proclaiming her prayer for the Queen and the overthrow of the Reign of Terror.

### Foucquier-Tinville

Public Prosecutor who hastily frames the indictments and drives the mock trial.

### Citizen Merlin

Mopping his forehead in intense fatigue after the struggle.

### Robespierre

Coolly taking snuff during the proceedings.

### Marie Antoinette

Mentioned as the Queen for whom Juliette prays.

## Key lines

> He had very expressive eyes, clear mirrors of the fine, upright soul within, and in them there was a look of intense emotion as he watched the crowd, which he had so often dominated and controlled, now turning in hatred against him.

Déroulède's eyes revealed his deep feeling as he saw the crowd he once led now hate him.

_Shows Déroulède's emotional response to losing popular support._

> His heart was torn between intense misery at having failed to save her and a curious, exultant joy at thought of dying beside her.

He felt both deep sorrow for not saving Juliette and a strange happiness at the idea of dying with her.

_Highlights the conflict between love and despair._

> She was but the victim of an ideal, of Fate stronger than her own will. She stood, an innocent martyr to the great mistake of her life.

Juliette was a victim of her ideals and fate, an innocent martyr for a tragic error.

_Déroulède's perspective on Juliette's innocence and sacrifice._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/i_will_repay_se/chapters/xxvi-sentence-of-death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/i_will_repay_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/i_will_repay_se/chapters