Summary
This chapter reveals the dark backstory that led to La Motte's current imprisonment. Desperate and nearly destitute at the abbey, La Motte robbed the Marquis de Montalt in the forest, shooting him and stealing his jewelry. Believing he had committed murder, La Motte lived in torment until the Marquis appeared alive at the abbey. The Marquis then blackmailed La Motte into betraying Adeline in exchange for his silence about the robbery. Now facing trial in Paris, La Motte's case looks hopeless as the Marquis's servants testify against him, though their contradictory stories create doubt. Meanwhile, La Luc returns from his failed petition to the king, devastated that he cannot save Theodore from execution. As Theodore prepares for his final hours, saying goodbye to his heartbroken father and Adeline, Louis suddenly arrives with stunning news: Theodore has received a reprieve. A mysterious prisoner has come forward with damaging information about the Marquis that could change everything. The chapter transforms from the depths of despair to sudden hope, though Theodore's ultimate fate remains uncertain. This emotional whiplash demonstrates how quickly circumstances can shift, while the revelation of La Motte's crime shows how one desperate act can spiral into a web of consequences affecting innocent lives.
Coming Up in Chapter 22
The mysterious prisoner Du Bosse prepares to expose the Marquis's darkest secrets in court. But what explosive revelations about Adeline's past will emerge, and how will they change everyone's fate?
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
T'is only when with inbred horror smote At some base act, or done, or to be done, That the recoiling soul, with conscious dread. Shrinks back into itself. MASON. We return now to Pierre de la Motte, who, after remaining some weeks in the prison of D----y, was removed to take his trial in the courts of Paris, whether the Marquis de Montalt followed to prosecute the charge. Madame de la Motte accompanied her husband to the prison of the Chatelet. His mind sunk under the weight of his misfortunes; nor could all the efforts of his wife rouse him from the torpidity of despair which a consideration of his circumstances occasioned. Should he be even acquitted of the charge brought against him by the Marquis, (which was very unlikely,) he was now in the scene of his former crimes, and the moment that should liberate him from the walls of his prison would probably deliver him again into the hands of offended justice. [Illustration 09] The prosecution of the Marquis was too well founded, and its object of a nature too serious, not to justify the terror of La Motte. Soon after the latter had settled at the abbey of St. Clair, the small stock of money which the emergency of his circumstances had left him being nearly exhausted, his mind became corroded with the most cruel anxiety concerning the means of his future subsistence. As he was one evening riding alone in a remote part of the forest, musing on his distressed circumstances, and meditating plans to relieve the exigencies which he saw approaching, he perceived among the trees at some distance a chevalier on horseback, who was riding deliberately along, and seemed wholly unattended. A thought darted across the mind of La Motte, that he might be spared the evils which threatened him by robbing this stranger. His former practices had passed the boundary of honesty--fraud was in some degree familiar to him--and the thought was not dismissed. He hesitated----every moment of hesitation increased the power of temptation--the opportunity was such as might never occur again. He looked round, and as far as the trees opened saw no person but the chevalier, who seemed by his air to be a man of distinction. Summoning all his courage, La Motte rode forward and attacked him. The Marquis de Montalt, for it was he, was unarmed; but knowing that his attendants were not far off, he refused to yield. While they were struggling for victory, La Motte saw several horsemen enter the extremity of the avenue, and rendered desperate by opposition and delay, he drew from his pocket a pistol, (which an apprehension of banditti made him usually carry when he rode to a distance from the abbey) and fired at the Marquis, who staggered and fell senseless to the ground. La Motte had time to tear from his coat a brilliant star, some diamond rings from his fingers, and to rifle his pockets before his attendants came up....
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Desperate Choices
How desperate choices create vulnerabilities that others exploit, trapping us in cycles of compromise and control.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when someone is creating artificial dependency to maintain control over you.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's 'help' comes with strings attached or makes you feel obligated to accept behavior that makes you uncomfortable.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Chatelet
A notorious prison in Paris where accused criminals awaited trial. Known for its harsh conditions and high mortality rate, it was where the most serious cases were held before facing the courts.
Modern Usage:
Like being held in a maximum-security county jail while waiting for your court date on serious felony charges.
Prosecution
The formal legal process where someone brings criminal charges against another person. In this period, wealthy individuals like the Marquis could personally pursue criminal cases against their alleged attackers.
Modern Usage:
When someone presses charges and takes you to court, like when a victim decides to prosecute their attacker rather than drop the case.
Reprieve
An official postponement or cancellation of a punishment, especially execution. Usually granted when new evidence emerges or higher authorities intervene at the last moment.
Modern Usage:
Like getting a stay of execution or having your sentence reduced when your lawyer finds new evidence or files a successful appeal.
Blackmail
Using someone's secrets or crimes against them to force them to do what you want. The Marquis used knowledge of La Motte's robbery to control him completely.
Modern Usage:
When someone threatens to expose your secrets unless you do what they want, like threatening to tell your boss about your mistake unless you cover for them.
Testimony
Sworn statements given by witnesses in court to help determine guilt or innocence. The reliability of witnesses could make or break a case, especially when their stories contradicted each other.
Modern Usage:
When witnesses take the stand in court to tell what they saw, and lawyers try to poke holes in their stories to create reasonable doubt.
Petition
A formal written request to someone in power, asking for mercy or intervention. La Luc petitioned the king directly to spare Theodore's life, which was a last resort for desperate families.
Modern Usage:
Like writing to the governor asking for clemency, or starting a Change.org petition to get attention for your cause.
Characters in This Chapter
Pierre de la Motte
Desperate criminal
His backstory is revealed - he robbed the Marquis in desperation when nearly broke, then was blackmailed into betraying Adeline. Now faces trial for the original robbery, trapped by his past choices.
Modern Equivalent:
The guy who made one bad decision when desperate and now everything's falling apart because of it
Marquis de Montalt
Manipulative antagonist
Prosecutes La Motte for the robbery while using that same crime to blackmail him. His servants give contradictory testimony, suggesting his case may not be as solid as it appears.
Modern Equivalent:
The powerful person who uses your mistakes against you while pretending to be the victim
Theodore
Condemned innocent
Faces execution and says goodbye to his father and Adeline, showing courage in his final moments. Receives an unexpected reprieve when new evidence emerges against the Marquis.
Modern Equivalent:
The good person caught up in someone else's schemes who almost pays the ultimate price
La Luc
Devoted father
Returns devastated from his failed petition to save his son. His grief shows the powerlessness of ordinary people against corrupt systems, until hope suddenly returns.
Modern Equivalent:
The parent who would do anything to save their child but feels helpless against the system
Louis
Bearer of hope
Arrives with the stunning news of Theodore's reprieve, transforming despair into hope. Represents how circumstances can change dramatically in an instant.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who shows up with life-changing news just when you think all is lost
Key Quotes & Analysis
"His mind sunk under the weight of his misfortunes; nor could all the efforts of his wife rouse him from the torpidity of despair"
Context: Describing La Motte's mental state in prison
Shows how guilt and hopelessness can paralyze someone completely. Even his wife's support can't break through his despair because he knows his situation is largely his own making.
In Today's Words:
He was so depressed and overwhelmed that nothing his wife did could snap him out of it
"The moment that should liberate him from the walls of his prison would probably deliver him again into the hands of offended justice"
Context: Explaining why La Motte can't hope for freedom even if acquitted
Captures the trap of past crimes catching up with you. Even if he beats this charge, his other crimes in Paris await him, showing how one bad choice leads to another.
In Today's Words:
Even if he got out of jail, he'd probably just get arrested again for his other crimes
"Theodore has received a reprieve"
Context: Arriving with life-saving news just as Theodore prepares to die
This simple sentence transforms the entire emotional landscape from tragedy to hope. It shows how quickly fate can change and how persistence in seeking justice can pay off.
In Today's Words:
They stopped the execution - Theodore's not going to die
Thematic Threads
Desperation
In This Chapter
La Motte's poverty drives him to robbery, which becomes the source of his ongoing torment and manipulation
Development
Evolved from earlier hints at La Motte's mysterious troubles to full revelation of how desperation created his downfall
In Your Life:
You might recognize this in moments when financial pressure or fear makes you consider choices that could give others power over you.
Blackmail
In This Chapter
The Marquis uses knowledge of La Motte's crime to force him into betraying Adeline
Development
Revealed as the mechanism behind the Marquis's control over La Motte throughout the story
In Your Life:
You might see this in workplace situations where someone uses your mistakes or secrets to manipulate your behavior.
Hope
In This Chapter
Theodore's last-minute reprieve transforms despair into possibility when all seemed lost
Development
Continues the pattern of dramatic reversals that have shaped the characters' fates
In Your Life:
You might experience this in moments when unexpected help arrives just when you've given up hope.
Justice
In This Chapter
The mysterious prisoner's testimony suggests that truth may finally expose the Marquis's crimes
Development
Building toward potential vindication after chapters of injustice and corruption
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when someone finally speaks up about wrongdoing you've witnessed but felt powerless to address.
Consequences
In This Chapter
La Motte faces trial for the robbery that started his spiral, while his betrayal of Adeline continues to haunt him
Development
Shows how past actions continue to shape present circumstances throughout the narrative
In Your Life:
You might see this in how decisions made under pressure continue to affect your relationships and opportunities years later.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What desperate choice did La Motte make that started his downward spiral, and how did the Marquis use it against him?
analysis • surface - 2
Why was La Motte willing to betray Adeline even though she was innocent? What does this reveal about how guilt and fear affect our decisions?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern today - someone making a desperate choice that gives another person power over them? Think about workplace situations, family dynamics, or financial pressures.
application • medium - 4
If you were advising someone trapped in La Motte's situation - being blackmailed because of a past mistake - what steps would you recommend they take?
application • deep - 5
What does La Motte's story teach us about the difference between solving problems and creating bigger problems? How can we tell the difference in the moment?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Vulnerability Points
Think about a time when you felt desperate or backed into a corner. Without judging yourself, map out what made you vulnerable in that moment and what choices you considered. Then identify what safeguards or support systems could have helped you avoid making choices out of pure desperation.
Consider:
- •Financial pressure often creates the most dangerous desperation spirals
- •The people who exploit our desperation are usually dealing with their own fears
- •Sometimes accepting short-term consequences prevents long-term manipulation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you had to choose between immediate relief and long-term security. What did you learn about yourself from that experience, and how would you handle a similar situation now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 22: Truth Emerges in Court
The coming pages reveal testimony can shift power dynamics in legal proceedings, and teach us protecting family secrets sometimes creates greater harm. These discoveries help us navigate similar situations in our own lives.