Summary
The cozy inn erupts into chaos when Marguerite Blakeney arrives unexpectedly, forcing a confrontation no one wanted. The French aristocrats—Comtesse de Tournay and her daughter Suzanne—are refugees fleeing the revolution, and Marguerite represents everything they've lost. Her brother's political activities helped destroy their world, making this meeting a powder keg of old grievances and fresh wounds. When Marguerite warmly greets them, expecting friendship, the Comtesse delivers a devastating public snub, forbidding her daughter to even touch Marguerite's hand. The moment crystallizes the impossible position of French émigrés in England—caught between their need for sanctuary and their burning resentment of those who drove them from their homeland. Marguerite handles the humiliation with remarkable composure, using humor and mimicry to deflect the pain, but we catch glimpses of genuine hurt beneath her polished performance. Young Suzanne's impulsive kiss goodbye reveals the human cost of these political divisions—friendship sacrificed to family loyalty and historical grievances. The chapter shows how personal relationships become casualties of larger political upheavals, and how even the most privileged people can find themselves navigating impossible social minefields. Marguerite's response—grace under pressure mixed with sharp wit—demonstrates survival skills that transcend her aristocratic setting.
Coming Up in Chapter 6
Sir Percy Blakeney finally makes his entrance, and his arrival promises to either defuse the tension or make everything infinitely more complicated. What kind of man has captured the heart of the brilliant Marguerite?
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
MARGUERITE In a moment the pleasant oak-raftered coffee-room of the inn became the scene of hopeless confusion and discomfort. At the first announcement made by the stable boy, Lord Antony, with a fashionable oath, had jumped up from his seat and was now giving many and confused directions to poor bewildered Jellyband, who seemed at his wits’ end what to do. “For goodness’ sake, man,” admonished his lordship, “try to keep Lady Blakeney talking outside for a moment, while the ladies withdraw. Zounds!” he added, with another more emphatic oath, “this is most unfortunate.” “Quick, Sally! the candles!” shouted Jellyband, as hopping about from one leg to another, he ran hither and thither, adding to the general discomfort of everybody. The Comtesse, too, had risen to her feet: rigid and erect, trying to hide her excitement beneath more becoming _sang-froid_, she repeated mechanically,— “I will not see her!—I will not see her!” Outside, the excitement attendant upon the arrival of very important guests grew apace. “Good-day, Sir Percy!—Good-day to your ladyship! Your servant, Sir Percy!”—was heard in one long, continued chorus, with alternate more feeble tones of—“Remember the poor blind man! of your charity, lady and gentleman!” Then suddenly a singularly sweet voice was heard through all the din. “Let the poor man be—and give him some supper at my expense.” The voice was low and musical, with a slight sing-song in it, and a faint _soupçon_ of foreign intonation in the pronunciation of the consonants. Everyone in the coffee-room heard it and paused, instinctively listening to it for a moment. Sally was holding the candles by the opposite door, which led to the bedrooms upstairs, and the Comtesse was in the act of beating a hasty retreat before that enemy who owned such a sweet musical voice; Suzanne reluctantly was preparing to follow her mother, whilst casting regretful glances towards the door, where she hoped still to see her dearly-beloved, erstwhile school-fellow. Then Jellyband threw open the door, still stupidly and blindly hoping to avert the catastrophe which he felt was in the air, and the same low, musical voice said, with a merry laugh and mock consternation,— “B-r-r-r-r! I am as wet as a herring! _Dieu!_ has anyone ever seen such a contemptible climate?” “Suzanne, come with me at once—I wish it,” said the Comtesse, peremptorily. “Oh! Mama!” pleaded Suzanne. “My lady . . . er . . . h’m! . . . my lady! . . .” came in feeble accents from Jellyband, who stood clumsily trying to bar the way. “_Pardieu_, my good man,” said Lady Blakeney, with some impatience, “what are you standing in my way for, dancing about like a turkey with a sore foot? Let me get to the fire, I am perished with the cold.” And the next moment Lady Blakeney, gently pushing mine host on one side, had swept into the coffee-room. There are many portraits and miniatures extant of Marguerite St. Just—Lady Blakeney as she was then—but it is doubtful...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Wounded Pride - When Past Pain Controls Present Choices
When people cannot strike back at those who truly hurt them, they often punish innocent parties who remind them of their pain.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when someone's fury at you is really fury at circumstances beyond their control.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone's reaction seems bigger than the situation warrants—they might be carrying old wounds you accidentally triggered.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
émigrés
French aristocrats who fled France during the revolution to escape execution. They lived as refugees in other countries, often in poverty despite their former wealth and status.
Modern Usage:
Like political refugees today who flee their home countries but struggle to rebuild their lives elsewhere.
sang-froid
Keeping your cool under pressure, maintaining composure when everything around you is falling apart. Literally means 'cold blood' in French.
Modern Usage:
What we call 'grace under fire' - staying calm during a crisis or confrontation.
social ostracism
Being deliberately excluded or shunned by your social group as punishment. A form of social exile where people refuse to acknowledge or interact with you.
Modern Usage:
Like being cancelled or frozen out - when your community turns their back on you for something you've done.
political guilt by association
Being blamed or punished for someone else's political actions, usually a family member. Your reputation suffers because of what your relatives did.
Modern Usage:
When people judge you based on your family's politics or actions, even if you had no control over them.
public humiliation
Being deliberately embarrassed or shamed in front of others as a form of punishment or power play. Often used to establish social hierarchy.
Modern Usage:
Like being called out on social media or having someone make a scene to embarrass you in public.
defensive wit
Using humor and clever remarks as a shield when you're being attacked or hurt. A way to deflect pain while maintaining dignity.
Modern Usage:
When someone roasts you back or makes jokes to avoid showing they're actually wounded by criticism.
Characters in This Chapter
Marguerite Blakeney
Protagonist under attack
Faces a brutal public snub but handles it with remarkable composure, using wit and mimicry to deflect the pain while revealing glimpses of genuine hurt underneath.
Modern Equivalent:
The person everyone blames for family drama who has to keep smiling at gatherings
Comtesse de Tournay
Antagonist/wounded refugee
Delivers a devastating public rejection to Marguerite, refusing to let her daughter even touch Marguerite's hand. Her cruelty stems from deep political wounds.
Modern Equivalent:
The bitter relative who holds grudges and makes family events uncomfortable for everyone
Suzanne de Tournay
Conflicted young woman
Caught between her mother's hatred and her own feelings, she impulsively kisses Marguerite goodbye, showing the human cost of political divisions.
Modern Equivalent:
The teenager torn between family loyalty and her own sense of right and wrong
Lord Antony
Anxious mediator
Panics when Marguerite arrives, desperately trying to prevent the confrontation he knows is coming. Represents the discomfort of those caught in the middle.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who tries to keep feuding people apart at parties
Jellyband
Overwhelmed host
The innkeeper who becomes frantic trying to manage the social crisis unfolding in his establishment, running around making things worse.
Modern Equivalent:
The host whose dinner party goes sideways and they're scrambling to fix it
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I will not see her!—I will not see her!"
Context: When she learns Marguerite has arrived at the inn
Shows the depth of the Comtesse's hatred and how political wounds have festered into personal vendettas. Her repetition reveals both determination and emotional instability.
In Today's Words:
I refuse to deal with that woman!
"Let the poor man be—and give him some supper at my expense."
Context: Her first words upon arriving, showing kindness to a beggar
Establishes Marguerite's character immediately - she's generous and compassionate, which makes the coming cruelty even more jarring. Shows the irony of her situation.
In Today's Words:
Leave him alone and put his meal on my tab.
"Zounds! this is most unfortunate."
Context: When he realizes Marguerite's arrival will create a confrontation
Captures the panic of someone who sees disaster coming but can't prevent it. His aristocratic oath shows how even the upper classes lose their composure in crisis.
In Today's Words:
Oh crap, this is going to be a disaster.
Thematic Threads
Class Division
In This Chapter
Political allegiances create unbridgeable social chasms between former peers
Development
Deepens from earlier hints—now we see the personal cost of class warfare
In Your Life:
You might see this when family members choose political sides over family bonds.
Public Performance
In This Chapter
Both women perform their roles—the wronged aristocrat and the gracious lady—for their audience
Development
Builds on Marguerite's earlier social mastery, now under extreme pressure
In Your Life:
You perform composure at work even when colleagues undermine you publicly.
Loyalty Conflicts
In This Chapter
Suzanne is torn between personal affection for Marguerite and family duty to her mother
Development
Introduced here—shows how political divisions fracture personal relationships
In Your Life:
You face this when friends expect you to choose sides in their conflicts.
Grace Under Fire
In This Chapter
Marguerite uses humor and dignity to deflect a devastating public humiliation
Development
Reveals new depth to her character beyond earlier social butterfly persona
In Your Life:
You might use this when facing workplace harassment or family criticism.
Historical Wounds
In This Chapter
Past political choices create present social impossibilities
Development
Introduced here—shows how historical events shape personal relationships
In Your Life:
You see this in how family immigration stories or wartime experiences still affect relationships today.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What exactly happens when Marguerite tries to greet the Comtesse and Suzanne? How does each person react?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does the Comtesse refuse to let her daughter even touch Marguerite's hand? What is she really angry about?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about times you've seen someone get blamed or punished for something they didn't directly do. What patterns do you notice?
application • medium - 4
How does Marguerite handle being publicly humiliated? What strategies does she use to protect herself emotionally?
analysis • deep - 5
When people are carrying deep wounds, how does it affect their ability to form new relationships or judge others fairly?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Displacement Pattern
Think of a situation where someone treated you coldly or unfairly, and it seemed to come out of nowhere. Now consider: what might that person have been carrying that had nothing to do with you? Write down what you think their real source of pain might have been, and how you represented something they couldn't directly confront.
Consider:
- •People often can't strike back at the real source of their pain, so they target safer substitutes
- •Your presence might remind them of losses or betrayals they're still processing
- •Their reaction says more about their unhealed wounds than about your actual behavior
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you caught yourself taking out frustration on the wrong person. What were you really angry about, and why was it easier to blame someone else?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 6: The Perfect Fool's Mask
As the story unfolds, you'll explore intelligence can be weaponized through strategic incompetence, while uncovering brilliant people sometimes choose partners who seem beneath them. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.