The Secret Tomb · Chapter
XI: The Will of the Marquis de Beaugreval explained
Dorothy, overjoyed and relieved, dances and laughs before the five men gathered at Roche-Périac, including Maître Delarue, the notary from Nantes.
What happens
Dorothy, overjoyed and relieved, dances and laughs before the five men gathered at Roche-Périac, including Maître Delarue, the notary from Nantes. She orchestrates the reading of a centuries-old sealed letter from the Marquis de Beaugreval, which reveals his plan to feign death and be resurrected after two centuries, summoning his descendants via gold medals to awaken him.
Themes in this chapter
Treasure and Legacy
The Marquis's will and gold medals represent a legacy spanning centuries, with the promise of resurrection as the ultimate treasure.
Family and Kinship
Dorothy emphasizes familial bonds among the medal holders, calling them cousins and fostering unity despite their diverse origins.
Adventure and Peril
The quest to awaken the Marquis involves a hidden staircase, secret mechanisms, and a risky resurrection ritual, embodying adventure.
Resilience and Courage
Dorothy's emotional recovery and the Marquis's bold plan to cheat death highlight resilience and courage in facing the unknown.
Characters to notice
- Dorothy
Expresses joy through tears, laughter, and dancing; takes charge of the gathering, questioning the notary and welcoming the medal holders as family.
- Maître Delarue
The notary from Nantes, entrusted with the sealed letter; initially flustered but recovers dignity to read the Marquis's testament.
- Marquis de Beaugreval
The deceased Marquis whose will orchestrates the reunion; his letter details his plan to feign death and be resurrected after two centuries.
- Geoffrey
Mentioned as the Marquis's faithful servant, sworn to obey his plan to fake death and transport him to the tower.
- Sire Barbier
The scrivener entrusted with the sealed letter and instructions; his office transmitted the missive across generations.
Key passages
“Tears of joy, tears which relieved her strained nerves and bathed her in an immense peacefulness.”
Dorothy cried from happiness, which eased her tension and brought her deep calm.
Describes Dorothy's emotional release after the tension of the gathering.
“I, Dorothy, ropedancer and Princess of Argonne.”
Dorothy declares herself both a performer and a noblewoman.
Highlights Dorothy's dual identity and playful authority.
“In France notaries represent the dead.”
In France, notaries act on behalf of deceased persons.
Explains the notary's role in executing the will.
“Two centuries' sleep, the resting of my heart, which will scarcely beat, will, I have no doubt, have filled up my wrinkles and restored youth to my features.”
The Marquis believes that sleeping for two hundred years will make him look younger.
Reveals the Marquis's expectation of rejuvenation through suspended animation.