The Slaves of Paris · Chapter
Blade to Blade explained
Norbert de Champdoce and George de Croisenois engage in a deadly duel in the garden, resulting in Croisenois's death.
What happens
Norbert de Champdoce and George de Croisenois engage in a deadly duel in the garden, resulting in Croisenois's death. Norbert buries the body and discovers a scullery maid, Caroline Schimmel, who witnessed the entire event. He threatens and bribes her into silence, then confronts his wife Marie, who coldly admits she arranged the meeting with Croisenois.
Themes in this chapter
Love vs. Duty
Norbert's sense of honor and duty drives him to kill Croisenois, while Marie's love for George leads her to defy her husband.
Deception and Secrecy
The entire duel and burial are conducted in secret, and Norbert must rely on Caroline's silence to protect his reputation.
Power and Manipulation
Norbert uses his wealth and authority to bribe Caroline, but realizes he is now at her mercy, highlighting the shifting power dynamics.
Characters to notice
- Louis Norbert de Champdoce
Driven by jealousy and pride, Norbert duels and kills George de Croisenois, then buries the body and bribes a witness.
- George de Croisenois
George is killed in the duel after swearing the Duchess is innocent; his body is buried in the garden.
- Marie de Puymandour
Marie remains calm and defiant when Norbert confronts her, admitting she arranged the meeting with Croisenois.
- Caroline Schimmel
The scullery maid who witnesses the duel and burial; Norbert bribes her to keep silent.
- Jean Lamou
Mentioned as the one who will instruct Caroline the next day; Norbert plans to confide in him.
Key passages
“Several times in the course of this interview Norbert de Champdoce had been on the point of bursting into a furious passion, but he restrained himself from a motive of self-pride; but now that his wife was no longer present, he showed a savage intensity of purpose and a deadly earnestness that was absolutely appalling.”
Norbert had nearly lost his temper several times during the conversation, but held back out of pride. Once his wife left, however, he revealed a terrifying and ruthless determination.
Norbert's controlled fury erupts after Marie's departure, setting the stage for the duel.
“The last despairing glance of the Duchess had pierced his heart like a dagger thrust, and when he saw Norbert thrust aside his trembling wife with such brutality, it was all he could do to refrain from striking him down.”
The Duchess's hopeless look wounded George deeply, and Norbert's rough treatment of his wife nearly made George attack him.
George's emotional turmoil and protective feelings toward Marie are evident.
“I swear to you, on my honor and by all my hopes of future salvation, that the Duchess de Champdoce is entirely free from guilt.”
I swear on my honor and my soul that the Duchess is completely innocent.
George's desperate plea to Norbert before the duel, asserting Marie's purity.
“The unfortunate man threw up his arms above his head; his sword escaping from his nerveless fingers and his knees bending under him, he fell heavily backwards without a word escaping from his lips.”
George raised his arms, dropped his sword, and collapsed backward, dying silently.
The fatal moment of the duel, described with stark finality.
“All the peace and happiness of his life were gone, and he felt like some unhappy prisoner who through the bars of his dungeon sees his jailer’s children sporting with lighted matches and a barrel of gunpowder.”
Norbert realized his peace was destroyed; he felt like a prisoner watching his jailer's children play dangerously with fire and explosives.
Norbert's dread at being at Caroline's mercy, comparing his situation to a volatile and perilous one.
