# Héron — El Dorado character guide > Héron in El Dorado by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** citizen Héron, Citizen Héron, Héron **First appearance:** 0006-part-i-v-the-temple-prison ## Snapshot The Committee's brutal chief agent, whose oaths and threats set the tempo of the night ride and the fate of the hostages in the coach. ## Who they are Héron commands the escort through the dark wood, all growls and volleys of cursing, impatient with suspense and ready to leave corpses for the wolves if the prisoner plays him false. He defers to Chauvelin's planning but keeps the whip hand — the woman's life, he makes clear, answers for the others. His coarse certainty is the hard wall against which the League's cleverness must break, and his temper is the spark that could ignite the whole ambush. ## In the story ### [El Dorado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/el-dorado) Also at the Committee, collaborating with Chauvelin on the plan to capture the Pimpernel. ### [In the Théâtre National](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-i-in-the-th-tre-national) Héron is pointed out by de Batz as the chief agent of the Committee of General Security, a powerful and cunning spy who will profit from the new decree. ### [The Temple Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-v-the-temple-prison) De Batz asks for citizen Héron at the Temple Prison, claiming immediate and important business, and is eventually admitted. ### [VI: The Committee's Agent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-committee-s-agent) The Committee's agent, described as tall and mean with a face showing cruelty and greed, accepts a bribe from de Batz but insists the Dauphin must not be touched. ### [The Most Precious Life in Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-most-precious-life-in-europe) Héron, the chief agent of the Committee of General Security, escorts de Batz to the Dauphin's cell. He is authoritative and harsh, ordering the Simons around and criticizing any leniency toward the child. ### [Arcades Ambo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-viii-arcades-ambo) Accepts the bribe from de Batz, expresses his determination to keep the Dauphin imprisoned, and plans to remove the Simons from the Temple. ### [What Love Can Do](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-ix-what-love-can-do) Visits Jeanne's lodgings to investigate Armand, but is distracted by Jeanne's coquettish behavior and leaves without arresting him. ### [X: Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-x-shadows) Mentioned as a threat; Jeanne fears he will return with spies to track Armand. ### [XIV: The Chief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-the-chief) Leads the arrest of Jeanne Lange, hoping to capture Armand through her. ### [The Weary Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-the-weary-search) Héron is mentioned as the official whose lodgings de Batz was heading toward in the Galerie des Prisonniers. ### [Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-chauvelin) Héron is mentioned as the chief agent of the Committee of General Security, to whose office Armand is to be taken. ### [It Is About the Dauphin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xix-it-is-about-the-dauphin) Returns in terror after discovering the Dauphin's escape; accuses de Batz and vows revenge. ### [The Certificate of Safety](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xx-the-certificate-of-safety) Overcome with fear and despair over the Dauphin's escape, he is nearly paralyzed and takes little part in the negotiation with Armand. ### [The Overwhelming Odds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii-the-overwhelming-odds) Growls like a contented beast and eggs on the soldiers to rough-handle Percy. ### [XXV: Paris Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxv-paris-once-more) Chief Agent of the Committee of General Security, he boasts of the sleep-deprivation torture inflicted on Percy and discusses the Dauphin's escape cover-up with de Batz. ### [XXX: Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx-afterwards) Mentioned by Chauvelin as the zealous colleague who visits Percy four times daily to inspect the guards. ### [Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii-sisters) Mentioned by Jeanne as the cruel citizen who came to arrest Armand and is hated in Paris for his spying. ### [The Last Phase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxv-the-last-phase) Present in the guardroom, initially indifferent but alarmed when Chauvelin fears Sir Percy has fainted, showing concern for the prisoner's survival. ### [Submission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvi-submission) Brutal and impatient, he threatens Blakeney with starvation and walling up the cell, but is eventually convinced by Chauvelin's strategy. ### [Chauvelin's Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvii-chauvelin-s-advice) Agrees to Chauvelin's plan, expressing admiration for its ruthlessness and vowing to kill the hostages himself if tricked. ### [Capitulation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxviii-capitulation) Arranges the escort and final orders for the expedition, expressing satisfaction with the plan. ### [XXXIX: Kill Him!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxix-kill-him) Referenced as collaborating with Chauvelin on the plan; responsible for final preparations. ### [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) Rides in the coach with the prisoner, impatient and savage; threatens to strangle Marguerite if Sir Percy does not comply. ### [The Dreary Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xliii-the-dreary-journey) Suffers a head injury after an accident with Percy, becomes increasingly irritable and violent in temper. ### [The Halt at Crècy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xliv-the-halt-at-cr-cy) Lurking in the coach with Percy, he curses at Marguerite and Armand when they step out, and remains half-drunk and vigilant. ### [The Forest of Boulogne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlv-the-forest-of-boulogne) Accompanies Chauvelin, guards the prisoners, and vows that the wolves will feed if the plan fails. ### [XLVI: Others in the Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlvi-others-in-the-park) Leads the escort, curses and gives orders, and reacts with fury to the news that the Dauphin is not at the château. ### [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) Gives orders to secure Percy in the chapel, drives the coach to Crècy, and plans to shoot prisoners at dawn. ### [XLVIII: The Waning Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlviii-the-waning-moon) The rough citizen agent driving the coach; he curses and is later gagged and bound by Percy. ### [The Land of Eldorado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlix-the-land-of-eldorado) His money is used to bribe the keeper; he is trussed, gagged, and left in the chapel by Percy. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/heron - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters