# After Evensong explained — The Laughing Cavalier

> Chapter companion for The Laughing Cavalier by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Gilda Beresteyn spends New Year's Day 1624 in church, wrestling with the burden of knowing about her brother Nicolaes's conspiracy. After Evensong, she walks home with her servants but is abducted by a group that overpowers her men and takes her and Maria away in a sleigh.

## Themes in this chapter

### Conspiracy and Rebellion

Gilda is tormented by her knowledge of the conspiracy led by her brother and Stoutenburg, and the moral dilemma of whether to betray them.

### Love and Sacrifice

Gilda's love for her brother conflicts with her sense of duty; she prays for guidance and hesitates to act out of loyalty.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The seemingly innocent beggar girl is a decoy for the abduction, and the peaceful church setting contrasts with the violent crime.

## Character check-ins

### Gilda Beresteyn

Spends the day in prayer, tormented by the secret of the conspiracy; abducted on her way home.

### Nicolaes Beresteyn

Gilda's brother, whose involvement in the conspiracy weighs on her conscience.

### Cornelius Beresteyn

Gilda's father, a man of rigid principles; she considers confessing the conspiracy to him.

### Maria

Gilda's maid, abducted alongside her; fearful and moaning during the journey.

### Piet

One of Gilda's serving men, overpowered during the abduction.

### Jakob

One of Gilda's serving men, overpowered during the abduction.

## Key lines

> The secret of which she had gained knowledge was weighing heavily on her soul; and heartrending doubts had assailed her all night and throughout the day.

The secret she had learned tormented her, and she had been plagued by agonizing doubts all night and day.

_Gilda's internal conflict over the conspiracy._

> She hoped against all hope that mayhap Nicolaes would see his own treachery in its true light and turn from it before it was too late, or that God would give her some unmistakable sign of what He willed her to do.

She clung to the faint hope that Nicolaes might realize his betrayal and repent, or that God would send her a clear sign.

_Gilda's desperate wish for resolution without betrayal._

> The next moment a double cry behind her caused her to turn in a trice: she had only just time to take in the terrifying fact that Piet and Jakob had dropped their lanterns to the ground even as thick dark cloths were thrown over their heads—before she found herself firmly seized round the waist by a powerful arm whilst some kind of scarf was wound quickly round her face.

She heard two cries behind her and turned to see Piet and Jakob being subdued with cloths over their heads, then she was grabbed and a scarf was wrapped around her face.

_The moment of Gilda's abduction._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xiv-after-evensong
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters