Summary
The Marquis returns to his villa, furious that Adeline has escaped his servants who tracked her to Lyons but lost her trail—likely because she took a boat down the Rhone River. Meanwhile, he successfully orchestrates Theodore's court-martial and death sentence, driven by personal revenge rather than justice. Louis de La Motte discovers that the condemned prisoner is Theodore and that Adeline is the woman the Marquis has been pursuing. Despite realizing Theodore is his romantic rival for Adeline's affections, Louis chooses friendship over jealousy and offers to travel to Savoy to inform Theodore's father about the situation. The Marquis has been intercepting Theodore's letters, leaving his family in the dark about his fate. When La Luc, Theodore's father, finally arrives in Vaceau with Adeline and Clara, he's visibly deteriorating from grief and illness. The prison reunion between father and son is heartbreaking—both men struggle with overwhelming emotion as they face the reality of Theodore's impending execution. La Luc tries to offer religious comfort while Theodore agonizes over leaving his father and Adeline forever. Despite his failing health, La Luc makes a desperate decision to travel immediately to Paris to petition the king for his son's life, knowing the journey might kill him but believing it's his only chance to save Theodore. This chapter shows how crisis reveals character—Louis's nobility in helping his rival, La Luc's sacrificial love, and Theodore's torment at causing his loved ones such pain.
Coming Up in Chapter 21
As La Luc races against time to reach Paris, those left behind must confront their own demons. The preview's ominous words about 'inbred horror' and a 'recoiling soul' suggest someone will face a moment of terrible moral reckoning that will shake them to their core.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
And venom'd with disgrace the dart of Death. SEWARD. We now return to the Marquis de Montalt, who having seen La Motte safely lodged in the prison of D----y, and learning the trial would not come on immediately, had returned to his villa on the borders of the forest, where he expected to hear news of Adeline. It had been his intention to follow his servants to Lyons; but he now determined to wait a few days for letters, and he had little doubt that Adeline, since her flight had been so quickly pursued, would be overtaken, and probably before she could reach that city. In this expectation he had been miserably disappointed; for his servants informed him, that though they traced her thither, they had neither been able to follow her route beyond, nor to discover her at Lyons. This escape she probably owed to having embarked on the Rhone, for it does not appear that the Marquis's people thought of seeking her on the course of that river. His presence was soon after required at Vaceau, where the court-martial was then sitting; thither therefore he went, with passions still more exasperated by his late disappointment, and procured the condemnation of Theodore. The sentence was universally lamented, for Theodore was much beloved in his regiment; and the occasion of the Marquis's personal resentment towards him being known, every heart was interested in his cause. Louis de La Motte happening at this time to be stationed in the same town, heard an imperfect account of his story; and being convinced that the prisoner was the young chevalier whom he had formerly seen with the Marquis at the abbey, he was induced partly from compassion, and partly with a hope of hearing of his parents, to visit him. The compassionate sympathy which Louis expressed, and the zeal with which he tendered his services, affected Theodore, and excited in him a warm return of friendship; Louis made him frequent visits, did every thing that kindness could suggest to alleviate his sufferings, and a mutual esteem and confidence ensued. Theodore at length communicated the chief subject of his concern to Louis; who discovered with inexpressible grief that it was Adeline whom the Marquis had thus cruelly persecuted, and Adeline for whose sake the generous Theodore was about to suffer. He soon perceived also that Theodore was his favoured rival; but he generously suppressed the jealous pang this discovery occasioned, and determined that no prejudice of passion should withdraw him from the duties of humanity and friendship. He eagerly inquired where Adeline then resided. She is yet, I fear, in the power of the Marquis, said Theodore, sighing deeply. O God!--these chains!--and he threw an agonizing glance upon them. Louis sat silent and thoughtful; at length starting from his reverie, he said he would go to the Marquis, and immediately quitted the prison. The Marquis, was, however, already set off for Paris, where he had been summoned to appear at the approaching trial of...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Character Under Fire
Crisis strips away social pretense and reveals people's true values through the choices they make under pressure.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to assess people's true nature by observing their behavior during crises rather than comfortable times.
Practice This Today
This week, notice how coworkers respond when short-staffed, how friends react during your emergencies, and how family members behave during stress—these moments reveal authentic character.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Court-martial
A military trial where soldiers are judged by other military officers rather than civilian courts. In Theodore's case, the Marquis used his influence to ensure a death sentence for personal revenge, not military justice.
Modern Usage:
Today we see this when workplace disciplinary hearings or professional review boards are influenced by personal grudges rather than fair evaluation.
Personal resentment
When someone in power uses their position to settle personal scores rather than serve justice. The Marquis condemned Theodore not for military crimes, but because Theodore loved Adeline.
Modern Usage:
This happens when bosses fire employees they don't like personally, or when authority figures abuse their power for petty revenge.
Intercepting letters
The Marquis prevented Theodore's letters from reaching his family, keeping them ignorant of his situation. This was a common way powerful people controlled information and isolated their enemies.
Modern Usage:
Today this looks like blocking someone's calls, hiding important mail, or controlling someone's access to communication and information.
Petition the king
In this era, a condemned person's only hope was appealing directly to the monarch for mercy. La Luc plans this desperate journey despite his failing health.
Modern Usage:
This is like going over everyone's head to appeal to the highest authority - the CEO, the governor, or filing a last-ditch legal appeal.
Station
Where a soldier is assigned to serve. Louis happened to be stationed in the same town where Theodore's trial was taking place, allowing him to discover the situation.
Modern Usage:
Today we talk about where someone is 'stationed' or assigned to work - different branches, locations, or departments within an organization.
Universally lamented
Everyone felt sorry about Theodore's sentence because they knew it was unjust. The whole regiment understood this was personal revenge, not military justice.
Modern Usage:
This happens when everyone knows someone got a raw deal - when a popular coworker gets fired unfairly, everyone talks about how wrong it is.
Characters in This Chapter
Marquis de Montalt
Primary antagonist
Returns to his villa furious that Adeline escaped his servants. Uses his power to orchestrate Theodore's court-martial and death sentence purely for personal revenge, not justice.
Modern Equivalent:
The vindictive boss who uses company policy to destroy someone who crossed them personally
Theodore
Tragic victim
Faces execution due to the Marquis's personal vendetta. Beloved by his regiment, making his unjust sentence even more painful. Struggles with the knowledge that his fate is breaking his father's heart.
Modern Equivalent:
The good employee getting railroaded by a powerful person with a grudge
Louis de La Motte
Noble friend
Discovers Theodore is both the condemned prisoner and his rival for Adeline's love. Despite the romantic competition, chooses friendship over jealousy and offers to help inform Theodore's father.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who puts loyalty above personal interests, even when it hurts
La Luc
Devoted father
Theodore's father who arrives visibly deteriorating from grief and worry. Despite his failing health, decides to make the potentially fatal journey to Paris to petition the king for his son's life.
Modern Equivalent:
The parent who will sacrifice everything, even their own health, to save their child
Adeline
Catalyst figure
Though not physically present, she's the reason for all the conflict. Her escape from the Marquis's servants has enraged him further, while her love motivates both Theodore's suffering and La Luc's desperate mission.
Modern Equivalent:
The person everyone's fighting over, who doesn't even know the damage being done in their name
Key Quotes & Analysis
"his passions still more exasperated by his late disappointment"
Context: Describing the Marquis's reaction to Adeline's escape
Shows how the Marquis's anger grows more dangerous with each setback. His 'disappointment' leads directly to Theodore's unjust condemnation, revealing how unchecked power plus personal rage creates injustice.
In Today's Words:
He was even more pissed off because things didn't go his way
"The sentence was universally lamented, for Theodore was much beloved in his regiment"
Context: Describing everyone's reaction to Theodore's death sentence
Emphasizes that this is clearly an injustice - when everyone who knows the person feels the punishment is wrong, it reveals the corruption of the process.
In Today's Words:
Everyone felt bad about the verdict because Theodore was well-liked and they knew he was getting screwed
"every heart was interested in his cause"
Context: Explaining why people sympathized with Theodore
When people understand the real reason behind someone's persecution, they naturally side with the victim. This shows how abuse of power often backfires by creating sympathy for the victim.
In Today's Words:
Everyone was rooting for him because they knew what was really going on
Thematic Threads
Loyalty
In This Chapter
Louis chooses to help Theodore despite being his romantic rival for Adeline's love
Development
Evolved from earlier betrayals to show loyalty can transcend self-interest
In Your Life:
You might face choosing between helping someone who competes with you professionally or personally.
Sacrifice
In This Chapter
La Luc risks his failing health to travel to Paris and petition for Theodore's life
Development
Built from earlier themes of parental duty into ultimate sacrificial love
In Your Life:
You might have to risk your own wellbeing to help family members in crisis.
Power
In This Chapter
The Marquis uses his influence to orchestrate Theodore's death sentence for personal revenge
Development
Continued abuse of aristocratic privilege, now escalated to life-and-death stakes
In Your Life:
You might encounter supervisors or officials who abuse their authority for personal grudges.
Justice
In This Chapter
Theodore's court-martial is corrupted by the Marquis's personal vendetta rather than actual military justice
Development
Ongoing theme of how personal interests corrupt institutional fairness
In Your Life:
You might witness workplace disciplinary actions driven by personal conflicts rather than actual performance issues.
Communication
In This Chapter
The Marquis intercepts Theodore's letters, leaving his family unaware of his situation
Development
Continued pattern of information control as a tool of oppression
In Your Life:
You might deal with people who control information flow to maintain power over family or workplace situations.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
When Louis discovers Theodore is both his romantic rival and facing execution, what choice does he make and why?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does La Luc decide to risk the dangerous journey to Paris despite his failing health?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about a crisis you've witnessed at work or in your family. How did it reveal people's true priorities and character?
application • medium - 4
If you were in Louis's position, knowing you could win someone's love by staying silent about their partner's danger, what would you do and how would you live with that choice?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the difference between how people present themselves normally versus how they act when everything is on the line?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Character Under Pressure Audit
Think of three people you know well - family, friends, or coworkers. Write their names down, then recall a time each faced real pressure or crisis. What did their actions reveal about their core values? Now honestly assess yourself: what does your behavior under pressure typically reveal about your character?
Consider:
- •Look at actions, not words - what people actually did when it mattered
- •Consider both positive revelations (unexpected kindness) and negative ones (selfishness)
- •Think about patterns - do these people consistently show the same character traits under stress?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were tested by crisis or pressure. What did your choices reveal about who you really are? What would you do differently now, and why?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 21: The Weight of Guilt and Unexpected Hope
As the story unfolds, you'll explore desperate circumstances can push people beyond their moral boundaries, while uncovering the way guilt and fear can consume a person even after escaping immediate consequences. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.