# Chauvelin — El Dorado character guide > Chauvelin in El Dorado by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** citizen Chauvelin, Citizen Chauvelin **First appearance:** 0001-el-dorado ## Snapshot A patient, mocking agent of the Republic who has learned from his failures and now hunts the Pimpernel through the people he loves. ## Who they are Citizen Chauvelin stalks Paris with the quiet certainty of a man who has studied his quarry's heart. Baffled at Calais and Boulogne, he has learned that the Pimpernel cannot be caught by force but only through those he loves, and he wields Armand and Marguerite as instruments with bland, merciless courtesy. His cold reasoning and his willingness to exploit affection make him the story's most dangerous adversary. ## Relationships ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Chauvelin is Percy's relentless enemy, obsessed with unmasking the Scarlet Pimpernel and destroying him. ### [Armand St. Just](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/armand_st_just) _rivalry_ Armand opposes Chauvelin's ruthless revolutionary methods, leading to mutual suspicion and conflict. ### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates and threatens Marguerite, using her love for Armand to try to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [Jeanne Lange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/jeanne_lange) _psychological_ Chauvelin uses Jeanne as a pawn, threatening her to gain leverage over Armand and the royalist network. ### [The Dauphin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/the_dauphin) _professional_ Chauvelin views the Dauphin as a key pawn in revolutionary power games, using him for political leverage. ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Chauvelin is Percy's relentless enemy, obsessed with unmasking the Scarlet Pimpernel and destroying him. ### [Armand St. Just](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/armand_st_just) _rivalry_ Armand opposes Chauvelin's ruthless revolutionary methods, leading to mutual suspicion and conflict. ### [Armand St. Just](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/armand_st_just) _rivalry_ Armand opposes Chauvelin's ruthless revolutionary methods, leading to mutual suspicion and conflict. ### [The Dauphin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/the_dauphin) _professional_ Chauvelin views the Dauphin as a key pawn in revolutionary power games, using him for political leverage. ### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates and threatens Marguerite, using her love for Armand to try to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates and threatens Marguerite, using her love for Armand to try to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [Jeanne Lange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/jeanne_lange) _psychological_ Chauvelin uses Jeanne as a pawn, threatening her to gain leverage over Armand and the royalist network. ## In the story ### [El Dorado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/el-dorado) Present at the Committee of Public Safety, discussing the pursuit of the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [In the Théâtre National](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-i-in-the-th-tre-national) Chauvelin is not directly present in this excerpt, but the atmosphere of surveillance and the new decree empowering spies like Héron sets the stage for his later actions. ### [Widely Divergent Aims](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-ii-widely-divergent-aims) Referenced as one who has lifted the veil of mystery regarding the Scarlet Pimpernel's identity. ### [Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-chauvelin) Chauvelin appears as the antagonist, manipulating Armand with ironic calm and accepting his offer of surrender. ### [The Removal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-the-removal) Leads Armand through the Temple, observes the Simons' removal, and schemes to use Armand as bait for the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [It Is About the Dauphin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xix-it-is-about-the-dauphin) Waits with Armand for Héron, interrogates him about the Dauphin's disappearance, and takes charge of the investigation. ### [The Certificate of Safety](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xx-the-certificate-of-safety) Dismisses Héron's concerns about de Batz, reveals the Scarlet Pimpernel's role in the Dauphin's escape, and negotiates with Armand, giving him a certificate of safety while plotting against the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [The Overwhelming Odds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii-the-overwhelming-odds) Leads the ambush, speaks to Percy in English, and orchestrates the arrest. ### [The Bitterest Foe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-the-bitterest-foe) Visits Marguerite to propose exchanging Percy's freedom for the Dauphin, revealing his psychological strategy. ### [XXVII: In the Conciergerie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii-in-the-conciergerie) Arranges Marguerite's visit, escorts her through the prison, and imposes the search condition. ### [XXX: Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx-afterwards) Attempts to coerce Marguerite into betraying Percy's cause; he observes her reactions with cold irony and reveals details about Héron's prison visits. ### [The Last Phase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxv-the-last-phase) Attempts to break Sir Percy through psychological manipulation and offers of comfort, driven by personal hatred and a desire for vengeance. ### [Submission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvi-submission) Manipulates Héron, arguing that physical exhaustion has neutralized Blakeney's supernatural luck and that letting him walk out is the only way to secure both the Dauphin and Blakeney's disgrace. ### [Chauvelin's Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvii-chauvelin-s-advice) Devises a cruel plan to use Marguerite and a friend as hostages to force Percy to betray the Dauphin. ### [Capitulation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxviii-capitulation) Dictates the letter to Blakeney, watches for hidden meanings, and feels a creeping fear at Blakeney's mysterious look. ### [XXXIX: Kill Him!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxix-kill-him) Delivers Percy's letter to Armand; reveals the plan for the Dauphin's exchange and the hostage arrangement; remains calm and immobile under Armand's fury. ### [God Help Us All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xl-god-help-us-all) Delivered Percy's letter to Armand; desires to use Armand and Marguerite as hostages. ### [XLI: When Hope Was Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xli-when-hope-was-dead) Orders Marguerite's arrest; she is to be handed over to him at the guardhouse of the Rue Ste. Anne. ### [The Guardhouse of the Rue Ste. Anne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlii-the-guardhouse-of-the-rue-ste-anne) Leads the escort, rides close to Armand, and later presents the hostage terms to Sir Percy in the guardhouse. ### [The Dreary Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xliii-the-dreary-journey) Rides in the carriage with Marguerite and Armand, mocking Marguerite's misery and maintaining control over the journey. ### [The Halt at Crècy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xliv-the-halt-at-cr-cy) Suave and commanding, he oversees the halt, eats with Marguerite and Armand, and leaves to inspect the new guard. ### [The Forest of Boulogne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlv-the-forest-of-boulogne) Leads the expedition, plans to take the Dauphin, and threatens to kill the hostages if resistance is met. ### [XLVI: Others in the Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlvi-others-in-the-park) Detached from the main squad with his escort, enters the château and sends a runner back to Héron with news. ### [XLVII: The Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlvii-the-chapel-of-the-holy-sepulchre) Mentioned as being at the château; Héron sends reinforcements to him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/chauvelin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters