Lord Tony’s Wife · Chapter
The Rat Mort explained
Yvonne de Kernogan is led by a guide through the dark streets of Nantes to a tavern called the Rat Mort, where she is told she will meet her friends.
What happens
Yvonne de Kernogan is led by a guide through the dark streets of Nantes to a tavern called the Rat Mort, where she is told she will meet her friends. The guide, revealed to be Martin-Roget, has tricked her into a trap set by Chauvelin. They plan to arrest the Scarlet Pimpernel and his allies when they arrive, using a staged riot and hidden Marats to spring the trap.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Martin-Roget poses as a guide to lead Yvonne into a trap; Chauvelin orchestrates a ruse to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Freedom and Oppression
Yvonne's hope for freedom is crushed as she is lured into a trap by the oppressive revolutionary forces.
Characters to notice
- Yvonne de Kernogan
Led by a guide to the Rat Mort tavern, believing she will meet friends; she is brave and hopeful.
- Martin-Roget
Disguised as the guide, he tricks Yvonne into the trap set by Chauvelin.
- Citizen Chauvelin
Masterminds the trap at the Rat Mort, coordinating with Fleury and Martin-Roget to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel.
- Fleury
Commandant of the Marats, he positions his men to surround the tavern and awaits the signal to raid.
- Paul Friche
Inside the Rat Mort, he is tasked with stirring up the crowd to create a diversion for the raid.
Key passages
“The simplest means are always the best.”
The easiest methods are the most effective.
Chauvelin praises the straightforwardness of the trap.
“Hope was our great ally—the hope that never forsakes a prisoner—that of getting free.”
Hope, which always stays with a captive, was our strongest tool.
Chauvelin explains how they exploited Yvonne's hope to deceive her.