The Slaves of Paris · Chapter
X: A Thunderbolt explained
Diana de Laurebourg, after meeting with Daumon, returns home in agony of suspense over the Duke de Champdoce's fate.
What happens
Diana de Laurebourg, after meeting with Daumon, returns home in agony of suspense over the Duke de Champdoce's fate. Daumon panics and insults her when the Duke does not die as expected. Diana resolves to see Norbert and, learning that he is to marry Mademoiselle de Puymandour, visits him at night. Norbert, changed by guilt, rejects her, revealing his father's idiocy as a result of their crime. Diana leaves vowing revenge.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrecy
Diana and Daumon conspire to poison the Duke, then attempt to hide their involvement; Norbert's guilt and the Duke's idiocy are kept secret.
Power and Manipulation
Diana manipulates Norbert into attempting patricide; Daumon tries to control the situation through threats and spying.
Marriage as Transaction
Norbert is forced into marriage with Mademoiselle de Puymandour for family and financial reasons, overriding his love for Diana.
Characters to notice
- Diana de Laurebourg
Consumed by anxiety and suspense, she visits Daumon, endures his insults, and later confronts Norbert at night, only to be rejected and vow revenge.
- Daumon
Panics when the Duke does not die as planned, insults Diana, and sends Françoise to gather news; later calms slightly but remains fearful.
- Louis Norbert de Champdoce
Shows signs of guilt and change; he rejects Diana's advances, reveals his father's idiocy, and is preparing to marry Mademoiselle de Puymandour.
- Duke de Champdoce
Lies ill, then appears as an idiot, a result of the attempted poisoning.
- Françoise
Sent by Daumon to the Château de Champdoce under a pretext; reports that the gates are bolted and that Jean suspects Daumon.
- Jean Lamou
The Duke's confidential man; he is suspicious of Françoise and warns that Daumon will be found out.
Key passages
“As the miner, who sets fire to the fuse and seeks shelter from the coming explosion, so did Diana de Laurebourg return to her father’s house after her visit to Daumon.”
Diana returned home like a miner who lights a fuse and then hides from the blast.
Opening simile emphasizing Diana's role in setting a dangerous plan in motion.
“I will defend myself by accusing you. I am an honest man, and have been your dupe. You have thought to make me a mere tool; your fine Norbert is a fool, but he will pay for his doings with his head all the same.”
Daumon threatens to blame Diana, calling himself an honest man deceived by her, and predicts Norbert will be executed.
Daumon's panic and betrayal of Diana when the plot goes wrong.
“Can you understand now,” exclaimed Norbert, pointing to his father, “why the remembrance of my love for you has become a hateful reminiscence? Do you dare to talk of happiness to me, when this spectre of a meditated crime will ever rise between us?”
Norbert tells Diana that his love for her is now hateful because the memory of their crime will always haunt them.
Norbert's rejection of Diana, blaming her for the crime that destroyed his father.