The Slaves of Paris · Chapter
XVI: Husband and Lover explained
The Duchess de Champdoce awaits a secret visit from George de Croisenois, having been manipulated by Diana de Mussidan.
What happens
The Duchess de Champdoce awaits a secret visit from George de Croisenois, having been manipulated by Diana de Mussidan. As George arrives, the Duchess tries to retract her promise, confessing her love but insisting on duty. Norbert de Champdoce unexpectedly returns, discovering them together. He confronts George, proposing a deadly duel with swords in the garden, where the loser will be buried in a pre-dug grave. The Duchess pleads for mercy, but Norbert rejects her, following George downstairs.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrecy
The Duchess's secret meeting, Diana's manipulation, and the hidden duel plan highlight pervasive deception.
Love vs. Duty
The Duchess confesses love for George but chooses duty to her marriage, while Norbert's duty to honor drives him to violence.
Power and Manipulation
Diana de Mussidan orchestrates the meeting, and Norbert exerts power through the duel's brutal terms.
Characters to notice
- Duchess of Champdoce
Awaiting George de Croisenois; confesses love but chooses duty; pleads for mercy from Norbert.
- George de Croisenois
Arrives for secret meeting; accepts Norbert's duel conditions; shows courage.
- Diana de Mussidan
Manipulated the Duchess into the meeting; overheard and ensured no retraction.
- Louis Norbert de Champdoce
Returns home to find wife with lover; proposes a deadly duel with burial in the garden.
- Madame de Mussidan
Mentioned as the hostess where the Duchess was alone with George.
Key passages
“The writer of the anonymous communication had only known the secret too well, for the Duchess de Champdoce was awaiting a visit that evening from George de Croisenois; this was, however, the first time.”
The anonymous letter writer was correct: the Duchess was expecting George de Croisenois for the first time that night.
Reveals the Duchess's secret meeting and the accuracy of the anonymous tip.
“I yield, said she. Come tomorrow night, at half-past ten, to the little door in the garden wall; it will only be kept closed by a stone being placed against it inside; push it, and it will open; and when you have entered the garden, acquaint me with your presence by clapping yours hands gently once or twice.”
She agreed to meet him, instructing him to enter through the garden door and signal with a soft clap.
Details the arrangement for the secret rendezvous.
“Yes, George, I love you; but the voice of duty speaks louder than the whispers of the heart. I may die of grief, but there will be no stain upon my marriage robe, no remorse eating out my heart.”
She admits her love but insists that duty to her marriage is stronger, even if it causes her to die of sorrow.
Highlights the conflict between love and duty.
“I mean to kill you, answered Norbert in such a voice of concentrated ferocity that George shuddered in spite of all his courage, but it shall not be with a pistol shot. It is said that blood will wash out any stain, but it is false; for even if all yours is shed, it will not remove the stain from my escutcheon.”
Norbert vows to kill George not with a pistol, but in a way that avoids public scandal, as blood alone cannot cleanse his honor.
Norbert's determination to restore honor through a secret duel.
“We will each take spade and pickaxe, and in a very brief period we can hollow out a receptacle for the body of the one who falls. When this work is completed, we will take to our swords and fight to the death, and the one who can keep his feet shall finish his fallen adversary, drag his body to the hole, and shovel the earth over his remains.”
They will dig a grave together, then duel to the death; the survivor will bury the loser in that grave.
The grim and secretive duel plan proposed by Norbert.
