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Aug. 26th, 2018 11:10 amI am furious at myself for not getting around to writing up The Elusive Pimpernel, because I had carefully footnoted on my e-reader all of the moments where Chauvelin suddenly gets extremely gay and NOW MY E-READER IS BROKEN so I have to find them all over again.
Relatedly: this is the book where Chauvelin suddenly gets extremely gay. I don't remember him honestly being that gay in The Scarlet Pimpernel! The Watsonian explanation for this is that Chauvelin did not care THAT personally about the Scarlet Pimpernel until he was personally and humiliatingly defeated by him, which triggered a Sexy Obsession; the Doylian explanation is that most of that book is from Marguerite's POV and she's too distracted to notice Chauvelin giving Percy the eye. But allow me to share with you some representative quotes from The Elusive Pimpernel, which I have painstakingly re-gathered for your enjoyment:
Even now, as [Chauvelin] gazed with grudging admiration at the massive, well-knit figure of his arch-enemy, noted the thin nervy hands and square jaw, the low, broad forehead and deep-set, half-veiled eyes, he knew that in this matter wherein Percy Blakeney was obviously playing with his very life, the only emotion that really swayed him at this moment was his passionate love of adventure.
In a moment Chauvelin was on his feet and with eyes dilated, lips parted in awed bewilderment, he was gazing towards the open window, where astride upon the sill, one leg inside the room, the other out, and with the moon shining full on his suit of delicate-coloured cloth, his wide caped coat and elegant chapeau-bras, sat the imperturbable Sir Percy.
He had seen that self-possessed man of the world, that dainty and fastidious dandy, in the throes of an overmastering passion. He had very nearly paid with his life for the joy of having roused that supercilious and dormant lion. In fact he was ready to welcome any insults from Sir Percy Blakeney now, since these would be only additional evidences that the Englishman's temper was not yet under control.
Already in imagination, Chauvelin saw his impudent enemy, the bold and daring adventurer, standing there beside that table and putting his name to the consummation of his own infamy. The mental picture thus evoked brought a gleam of cruel satisfaction and of satiated lust into the keen, ferret-like face, and a smile of intense joy lit up the narrow, pale-coloured eyes.
Chauvelin went up to the bedstead and looked down upon the reclining figure of the man who had oft been called the most dangerous enemy of Republican France. Of a truth, a fine figure of a man, Chauvelin was ready enough to admit that; the long, hard limbs, the wide chest, and slender, white hands, all bespoke the man of birth, breeding and energy: the face too looked strong and clearly-cut in repose, now that the perpetually inane smile did not play round the firm lips, nor the lazy, indolent expression mar the seriousness of the straight brow.
I REST. MY CASE.
Let us not think, by the way, that Percy is not willing to throw his ASTOUNDINGLY THIRSTY nemesis an occasional flirtatious bone:
CHAUVELIN: What I wish to say to you, Sir Percy, is in the nature of a proposed bargain.
PERCY: Indeed?... Monsieur, you are full of surprises... like a pretty woman.... And pray what are the terms of this proposed bargain?
"Okay, thank you for this thrilling recreation of Kate Beaton's 'Nemesis,' but what is the plot of this book?" you may at this point be asking.
( The actual plot is under the cut. )
Relatedly: this is the book where Chauvelin suddenly gets extremely gay. I don't remember him honestly being that gay in The Scarlet Pimpernel! The Watsonian explanation for this is that Chauvelin did not care THAT personally about the Scarlet Pimpernel until he was personally and humiliatingly defeated by him, which triggered a Sexy Obsession; the Doylian explanation is that most of that book is from Marguerite's POV and she's too distracted to notice Chauvelin giving Percy the eye. But allow me to share with you some representative quotes from The Elusive Pimpernel, which I have painstakingly re-gathered for your enjoyment:
Even now, as [Chauvelin] gazed with grudging admiration at the massive, well-knit figure of his arch-enemy, noted the thin nervy hands and square jaw, the low, broad forehead and deep-set, half-veiled eyes, he knew that in this matter wherein Percy Blakeney was obviously playing with his very life, the only emotion that really swayed him at this moment was his passionate love of adventure.
In a moment Chauvelin was on his feet and with eyes dilated, lips parted in awed bewilderment, he was gazing towards the open window, where astride upon the sill, one leg inside the room, the other out, and with the moon shining full on his suit of delicate-coloured cloth, his wide caped coat and elegant chapeau-bras, sat the imperturbable Sir Percy.
He had seen that self-possessed man of the world, that dainty and fastidious dandy, in the throes of an overmastering passion. He had very nearly paid with his life for the joy of having roused that supercilious and dormant lion. In fact he was ready to welcome any insults from Sir Percy Blakeney now, since these would be only additional evidences that the Englishman's temper was not yet under control.
Already in imagination, Chauvelin saw his impudent enemy, the bold and daring adventurer, standing there beside that table and putting his name to the consummation of his own infamy. The mental picture thus evoked brought a gleam of cruel satisfaction and of satiated lust into the keen, ferret-like face, and a smile of intense joy lit up the narrow, pale-coloured eyes.
Chauvelin went up to the bedstead and looked down upon the reclining figure of the man who had oft been called the most dangerous enemy of Republican France. Of a truth, a fine figure of a man, Chauvelin was ready enough to admit that; the long, hard limbs, the wide chest, and slender, white hands, all bespoke the man of birth, breeding and energy: the face too looked strong and clearly-cut in repose, now that the perpetually inane smile did not play round the firm lips, nor the lazy, indolent expression mar the seriousness of the straight brow.
I REST. MY CASE.
Let us not think, by the way, that Percy is not willing to throw his ASTOUNDINGLY THIRSTY nemesis an occasional flirtatious bone:
CHAUVELIN: What I wish to say to you, Sir Percy, is in the nature of a proposed bargain.
PERCY: Indeed?... Monsieur, you are full of surprises... like a pretty woman.... And pray what are the terms of this proposed bargain?
"Okay, thank you for this thrilling recreation of Kate Beaton's 'Nemesis,' but what is the plot of this book?" you may at this point be asking.
( The actual plot is under the cut. )
