# Chapter II explained — Sir Percy Hits Back

> Chapter companion for Sir Percy Hits Back by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Sir Percy Blakeney and his fellow Scarlet Pimpernel league members, Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and Lord Tony, plan the rescue of the Frontenac family from arrest by revolutionary soldiers. Blakeney describes his failed attempt to warn Monsieur de Frontenac, who refuses to believe in the danger. The men discuss the need to gather information about a girl named Fleurette, who is said to be devoted to the Frontenacs. Blakeney gives orders for the night's reconnaissance and the group prepares for the dangerous mission ahead, balancing their serious purpose with moments of boyish humor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Heroism and Sacrifice

Blakeney and his league risk their lives to save innocent people from the guillotine, driven by a sense of duty and adventure.

### Sport and Adventure

The rescue mission is described as 'grand, glorious, maddening sport,' highlighting the thrill and camaraderie of the endeavor.

### Revolutionary Tyranny and Injustice

The revolutionary government's arbitrary arrests and the Law of the Suspect are condemned as a 'bloody tyranny' that threatens innocent families.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Percy Blakeney

The leader of the Scarlet Pimpernel, disguised as a vagabond woodcutter, plans the rescue of the Frontenac family and gives orders to his men.

### Sir Andrew Ffoulkes

A trusted officer of the league, assists Blakeney in reconnaissance and participates in the planning.

### Lord Tony

Another league member, receives orders to find Hastings and Stowmaries and to gather information at Les Amandiers.

### Fleurette

Mentioned as a pretty girl from Dauphiné, daughter of Armand, who would be distraught if anything happened to the Frontenacs; Blakeney considers her useful to their adventure.

### Madame de Frontenac

Part of the Frontenac family targeted for arrest; Blakeney plans to rescue her and her daughter.

### Charles de Frontenac

The stubborn optimist who refuses to believe he is in danger despite Blakeney's warning as a royalist agent.

## Key lines

> He would save the Frontenacs as he had saved scores of helpless men, women and children before, or leave his bones to moulder in this fair land where his name had become anathema to the tigers that fed on the blood of their kindred.

Blakeney is determined to rescue the Frontenacs, even if it costs him his life, continuing his pattern of saving the innocent from the revolutionaries.

_Highlights Blakeney's commitment to heroism and sacrifice._

> Sport? Of course it was sport! grand, glorious, maddening sport! Sport that made him forget every other joy in life, every comfort, every beatitude.

Blakeney views the dangerous rescue missions as an exhilarating sport that gives his life purpose.

_Emphasizes the theme of sport and adventure._

> Since their iniquitous 'Law of the Suspect,' no man, woman or child is safe from denunciation: now with this perambulating army, summary arrests occur by the thousand.

The Law of the Suspect and the mobile revolutionary forces have made everyone vulnerable to arbitrary arrest and execution.

_Criticizes the tyranny and injustice of the revolutionary regime._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sir_percy_hits_back_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sir_percy_hits_back_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sir_percy_hits_back_se/chapters