# The Riot explained — Twenty Years After > Chapter companion for Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas. ## What happens Gondy observes the nocturnal preparations for revolt in Paris, including barricades and arms distribution. The next morning, the city is in full rebellion. The Maréchal de la Meilleraie attempts to suppress the uprising but is surrounded and forced to retreat. Gondy intervenes, securing a promise from the marshal to demand Broussel's release. Meanwhile, Mazarin, alarmed, summons d'Artagnan and Porthos, who report the intensity of the revolt. ## Themes in this chapter ### Revolution and Rebellion The chapter depicts the full-scale revolt in Paris, with barricades, armed citizens, and open defiance of royal authority. ### Power and Corruption Mazarin's fear and his frantic securing of wealth highlight the corruption and fragility of his power. ### Class and Ambition Gondy's manipulation of the lower classes and his own ambition to control the revolt are central. ## Character check-ins ### Gondy Leads the nocturnal preparations and later calms the crowd, securing the marshal's promise. ### Planchet Distributes arms in the streets and later leads halberdiers against the marshal. ### Rochefort Leads fifty white-cloaked recruits into a sculptor's trapdoor. ### Louvières Guards the Pont Neuf with bourgeois and later appears at the Rue de la Monnaie. ### Friquet Organizes a company of rogues and makes a racket at the barricade. ### Mazarin Terrified by the revolt, secures his valuables and summons d'Artagnan. ### D'Artagnan Reports to Mazarin with Porthos, showing bullet holes in his cloak. ### Porthos Accompanies d'Artagnan; his coat is cut by a halberd. ## Key lines > The whole city seemed peopled with fantastic beings; silent shadows were seen unpaving the streets and others dragging and upsetting great wagons, whilst others again dug ditches large enough to engulf whole regiments of horsemen. The city appeared filled with ghostly figures tearing up streets, overturning wagons, and digging trenches that could swallow cavalry. _Describes the eerie, chaotic preparations for the barricades._ > The work of revolt continued the whole night thus. The next morning, on awaking, Paris seemed to be startled at her own appearance. It was like a besieged town. The rebellion's labor went on all night, and by morning Paris looked like a city under siege, surprising even its own inhabitants. _Highlights the transformation of Paris overnight._ > Mazarin shrugged his shoulders and pretended to despise the populace; but he turned visibly pale and ran to his closet, trembling all over, locked up his gold and jewels in his caskets and put his finest diamonds on his fingers. Mazarin feigned contempt for the crowd but paled and hurried to secure his gold, jewels, and diamonds in fear. _Shows Mazarin's panic and materialism._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twenty_years_after_se/chapters/xlvii-the-riot - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twenty_years_after_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twenty_years_after_se/chapters