The Elusive Pimpernel | Page 3

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The Elusive Pimpernel
by Baroness Orczy

Contents
I. Paris: 1793 II. A Retrospect III. Ex-Ambassador Chauvelin IV. The
Richmond Gala V. Sir Percy and His Lady VI. For the Poor of Paris
VII. Premonition VIII. The Invitation IX. Demoiselle Candeille X.
Lady Blakeney's Rout XI. The Challenge XII. Time – Place –
Conditions XIII. Reflections XIV. The Ruling Passion XV. Farewell
XVI. The Passport XVII. Boulogne XVIII. No. 6 XIX. The Strength of
the Weak XX. Triumph XXI. Suspense XXII. Not Death XXIII. The
Hostage XXIV. Colleagues XXV. The Unexpected XXVI. The Terms
of the Bargain XXVII. The Decision XXVIII. The Midnight Watch
XXIX. The National Fete XXX. The Procession XXXI. Final
Dispositions XXXII. The Letter XXXIII. The English Spy XXXIV.
The Angelus XXXV. Marguerite

Chapter I
: Paris: 1793
There was not even a reaction.
On! ever on! in that wild, surging torrent; sowing the wind of anarchy,
of terrorism, of lust of blood and hate, and reaping a hurricane of
destruction and of horror.
On! ever on! France, with Paris and all her children still rushes blindly,
madly on; defies the powerful coalition,--Austria, England, Spain,
Prussia, all joined together to stem the flow of carnage, -- defies the
Universe and defies God!
Paris this September 1793!--or shall we call it Vendemiaire, Year I. of
the Republic?--call it what we will! Paris! a city of bloodshed, of
humanity in its lowest, most degraded aspect. France herself a gigantic
self-devouring monster, her fairest cities destroyed, Lyons razed to the
ground, Toulon, Marseilles, masses of blackened ruins, her bravest
sons turned to lustful brutes or to abject cowards seeking safety at the
cost of any humiliation.
That is thy reward, oh mighty, holy Revolution! apotheosis of equality
and fraternity! grand rival of decadent Christianity.
Five weeks now since Marat, the bloodthirsty Friend of the People,
succumbed beneath the sheath-knife of a virgin patriot, a month since
his murderess walked proudly, even enthusiastically, to the guillotine!
There has been no reaction--only a great sigh! ... Not of content or
satisfied lust, but a sigh such as the man-eating tiger might heave after
his first taste of long-coveted blood.
A sigh for more!
A king on the scaffold; a queen degraded and abased, awaiting death,
which lingers on the threshold of her infamous prison; eight hundred
scions of ancient houses that have made the history