# Back Again in Haarlem explained — The Laughing Cavalier

> Chapter companion for The Laughing Cavalier by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

Diogenes returns to Haarlem and poses for Frans Hals, learning that Gilda Beresteyn's abduction is blamed on sea-wolves. He feigns ignorance while secretly pleased that suspicion has fallen away from him, and plans to continue his adventure southward.

## Themes in this chapter

### Appearance vs. Reality

Diogenes feigns ignorance and disinterest about Gilda's abduction while secretly being the orchestrator, and the city blames sea-wolves for a crime he committed.

### Art and Patronage

Frans Hals works on a masterpiece portrait of Diogenes, highlighting the relationship between artist and sitter, and the patronage of the Beresteyn family.

## Character check-ins

### Diogenes

Returns to Haarlem after a night of waiting, poses for Frans Hals, and feigns ignorance about Gilda's abduction while secretly pleased that suspicion has fallen on the sea-wolves.

### Frans Hals

Works on a portrait of Diogenes, shares news of Gilda's abduction, and expresses satisfaction with his sitter and the day's work.

### Gilda Beresteyn

Mentioned as the abducted daughter of Cornelius Beresteyn, believed to have been taken by sea-wolves.

### Nicolaes Beresteyn

Mentioned as raising a company of Waardgelders to pursue the brigands and commanding the expedition to rescue his sister.

### Cornelius Beresteyn

Mentioned as the wealthy grain merchant and deputy burgomaster whose daughter was abducted.

## Key lines

> The whole city is in a tumult... and Mynheer Beresteyn and his son Nicolaes are raising a private company of Waardgelders to pursue the brigands.

The city is in uproar, and Cornelius Beresteyn and his son Nicolaes are organizing a private militia to chase the kidnappers.

_Frans Hals informs Diogenes of the public reaction and the Beresteyns' response to Gilda's abduction._

> Diogenes congratulated himself on the happy inspiration which had caused him to go out of Haarlem by its north gate and to have progressed toward Groningen for a quarter of an hour or so, leaving traces behind him which Nicolaes Beresteyn would no doubt know how to interpret in favour of the 'sea-wolves' theory.

Diogenes was pleased with his clever plan to leave false clues pointing north toward Groningen, so that the Beresteyns would blame the sea-wolves.

_Diogenes reflects on his successful misdirection to avoid suspicion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters/xx-back-again-in-haarlem
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_laughing_cavalier_se/chapters