The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel · Chapter
XII explained
The Scarlet Pimpernel confronts Fouquier-Tinville in his own home, gagging and binding him, then reveals how he and his league outwitted Chauvelin by using a false Paul Molé to steal the ring and rescue Madeleine Lannoy's child, while the r
What happens
The Scarlet Pimpernel confronts Fouquier-Tinville in his own home, gagging and binding him, then reveals how he and his league outwitted Chauvelin by using a false Paul Molé to steal the ring and rescue Madeleine Lannoy's child, while the real Paul Molé languishes in prison. He demands the innocent man's release, threatening Fouquier-Tinville's own safety.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Wit
The Scarlet Pimpernel's elaborate plan using a false Paul Molé and his league's coordinated actions demonstrates superior cunning and wit over Chauvelin.
Identity and Disguise
The chapter revolves around the false Paul Molé impersonating the real one, and the Pimpernel's ability to assume perfect disguises.
Characters to notice
- Citizen Fouquier-Tinville
Gagged and bound in his own home by the Scarlet Pimpernel, who threatens him to secure the release of the real Paul Molé.
- The Scarlet Pimpernel
Confronts Fouquier-Tinville directly, explaining his use of a false Paul Molé and the league's successful rescue of Madeleine Lannoy's child.
- Citizen Chauvelin
Mentioned as having miscalculated by not accounting for two Paul Molés and the league's support.
- Paul Molé
The real Paul Molé is in the Abbaye prison, arrested by mistake; the Scarlet Pimpernel demands his release.
- Madeleine Lannoy
Her child was rescued by the league from the Leridans' house and is being escorted to safety.
Key passages
“The one fact was that there were two Paul Molés—one real and one factitious.”
There were two Paul Molés: the genuine one and an impostor.
The Scarlet Pimpernel explains the key deception to Fouquier-Tinville.
“Without one of them near me, by the side of the murdered Marat, I could not have rid myself of the ring in time, before other rough hands searched me to my skin.”
I needed a league member beside Marat's body to dispose of the ring before being searched.
The Pimpernel highlights the league's crucial role in the ring theft.