# No. 6 explained — The Elusive Pimpernel

> Chapter companion for The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Marguerite Blakeney, imprisoned in Boulogne, awakens to the horror of her situation as a hostage used to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel. Initially despairing and wishing for death to avoid being used against her husband, she revives with hope, believing Sir Percy has followed her to Boulogne. She meets her gentle, elderly cellmate, the Abbé Foucquet, a former priest who has been forced to guard her but shows her kindness and respect.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sacrifice for the Greater Good

Marguerite contemplates sacrificing her own life to prevent her husband from being forced to choose between her freedom and his own.

### Love and Marriage

Marguerite's love for Percy drives her despair and hope; she is willing to die to protect him, and her hope is rekindled by her faith in his love and resourcefulness.

### Deception and Disguise

The Abbé Foucquet is forced to act as a jailer but is actually kind and protective, a form of deceptive appearance versus true nature.

## Character check-ins

### Marguerite Blakeney

Awakens in prison, initially despairing and wishing for death, then revives with hope that Sir Percy is in Boulogne to rescue her.

### Abbé Foucquet

An elderly, gentle former priest forced to guard Marguerite; he treats her with kindness and builds a screen for her privacy.

### Sir Percy Blakeney

Mentioned as the Scarlet Pimpernel; Marguerite believes he has followed her to Boulogne and will attempt her rescue.

### Citizen Chauvelin

Implied as the orchestrator of Marguerite's capture; she recalls him leading the crowd on the landing stage.

## Key lines

> She was a prisoner in the hands of those who long ago had sworn to bring The Scarlet Pimpernel to death! She! his wife, a hostage in their hands! her freedom and safety offered to him as the price of his own!

Marguerite realizes she is a hostage, and her captors plan to trade her freedom for the Scarlet Pimpernel's life.

_Highlights the central conflict of the chapter: Marguerite as a bargaining chip._

> He would sacrifice himself for her; he would prefer to die a thousand deaths so long as they set her free.

Marguerite is certain that Percy would give up his own life to secure her release.

_Reflects Marguerite's understanding of Percy's love and self-sacrificing nature._

> What if matters were not so hopeless after all? Already her mind had flown instinctively to thoughts of escape.

Marguerite's hope revives as she begins to consider the possibility of escape.

_Marks the turning point from despair to active hope._

> A priest of the good God, my dear child, ... who is not allowed to serve his divine Master any longer. A poor old fellow, very harmless and very helpless, who has been set here to watch over you.

The old man introduces himself as a defrocked priest forced to guard Marguerite, emphasizing his harmlessness.

_Introduces the Abbé Foucquet and his gentle, reluctant role as jailer._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xviii-no-6
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters