# XII explained — The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel

> Chapter companion for The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_league_of_the_scarlet_pimpernel_se/chapters