# Sir Percy Blakeney — El Dorado character guide

> Sir Percy Blakeney in El Dorado by Baroness Orczy.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Percy, Sir Percy Blakeney, Blakeney, the Scarlet Pimpernel

**First appearance:** 0001-el-dorado

## Snapshot

The languid English fop whose lazy drawl and exquisite tailoring conceal the daring mind of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

## Who they are

Sir Percy Blakeney drifts through drawing rooms as a harmless, fashionable idler, yet his name is the one the Republic fears most. Captured and held in the Conciergerie, he answers Chauvelin's offers of mercy with laughter, refusing to trade the little Dauphin for his own life. His unshakable nerve and his refusal to let his wife see the man behind the pose make him the still center of every scheme and counter-scheme.

## Relationships

### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney)

_romantic_

Husband and wife, their marriage evolves from estrangement to deep love as Percy reveals his heroic identity.

### [Armand St. Just](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/armand_st_just)

_family_

Brother-in-law and friend, with Armand initially distrusting Percy but later respecting his courage and loyalty.

### [Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/chauvelin)

_rivalry_

Chauvelin is Percy's relentless enemy, obsessed with unmasking the Scarlet Pimpernel and destroying him.

### [Jeanne Lange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/jeanne_lange)

_friendship_

Jeanne respects and trusts Percy as a protector and ally in the dangerous game of rescuing aristocrats.

### [Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/chauvelin)

_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)

_family_

Brother-in-law and friend, with Armand initially distrusting Percy but later respecting his courage and loyalty.

### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney)

_romantic_

Husband and wife, their marriage evolves from estrangement to deep love as Percy reveals his heroic identity.

### [Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/chauvelin)

_rivalry_

Chauvelin is Percy's relentless enemy, obsessed with unmasking the Scarlet Pimpernel and destroying him.

### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney)

_romantic_

Husband and wife, their marriage evolves from estrangement to deep love as Percy reveals his heroic identity.

### [Armand St. Just](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/armand_st_just)

_family_

Brother-in-law and friend, with Armand initially distrusting Percy but later respecting his courage and loyalty.

### [Jeanne Lange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/jeanne_lange)

_friendship_

Jeanne respects and trusts Percy as a protector and ally in the dangerous game of rescuing aristocrats.

### [Jeanne Lange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/jeanne_lange)

_friendship_

Jeanne respects and trusts Percy as a protector and ally in the dangerous game of rescuing aristocrats.

## In the story

### [Widely Divergent Aims](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-ii-widely-divergent-aims)

Referenced as the Scarlet Pimpernel; his identity is partially known to Chauvelin and Collot d'Herbois; his leadership and motives are debated.

### [IV: Mademoiselle Lange](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-iv-mademoiselle-lange)

Referenced indirectly as the Scarlet Pimpernel, the subject of Jeanne's curiosity and Armand's loyalty.

### [Arcades Ambo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-viii-arcades-ambo)

Referred to as the Scarlet Pimpernel; de Batz believes he is in Paris to rescue the Dauphin and seeks to have him and his League eliminated.

### [X: Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-x-shadows)

Referenced as the Scarlet Pimpernel, the leader Armand reveres and plans to consult.

### [The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xi-the-league-of-the-scarlet-pimpernel)

The leader of the League, he reveals the rescue plan for the Dauphin and commands his followers with calm authority.

### [XII: What Love Is](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xii-what-love-is)

Experiences a vivid dream of domestic peace with Marguerite, then awakens to the horrors of revolutionary Paris. He confronts Armand about his broken oath and love for Jeanne.

### [Then Everything Was Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-then-everything-was-dark)

Armand's chief, to whom he has sworn allegiance; Armand collapses at his door after learning of Jeanne's arrest.

### [XIV: The Chief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xiv-the-chief)

The chief of the League; calm and commanding, he reveals he already tried to save Jeanne, reassures Armand of her safety, and issues orders to protect the escape plan.

### [The Gate of La Villette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xv-the-gate-of-la-villette)

Expected to arrive at the gate with news of Jeanne, but fails to appear, leaving Armand in despair.

### [The Weary Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-the-weary-search)

Percy is mentioned as having failed to find Jeanne; Armand visits his lodgings but does not find him there.

### [Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-chauvelin)

Percy is referenced as a model of calmness and impudence that Armand tries to emulate, and as the Scarlet Pimpernel.

### [The Certificate of Safety](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xx-the-certificate-of-safety)

Referenced as the Scarlet Pimpernel who successfully executed the Dauphin's escape, causing Chauvelin's fury and Armand's pride.

### [Back to Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xxi-back-to-paris)

Narrates the escape of the Dauphin and resolves to return to Paris to rescue Armand St. Just.

### [XXII: Of That There Could Be No Question](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xxii-of-that-there-could-be-no-question)

Disguised as a working man, he tracks Armand and retrieves a hidden letter, vowing to protect his brother-in-law.

### [The Overwhelming Odds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii-the-overwhelming-odds)

Disguised as a workman, he enters the trap set by Chauvelin, is captured after a brief struggle, and reveals Jeanne's safety before losing consciousness.

### [The News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-the-news)

Captured in the Rue de la Croix Blanche; his fate is the central concern of the chapter.

### [XXV: Paris Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxv-paris-once-more)

Imprisoned in the Conciergerie, he is being tortured by sleep deprivation and starvation to force him to reveal the Dauphin's hiding place.

### [The Bitterest Foe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvi-the-bitterest-foe)

Imprisoned in the Conciergerie for a week; his weakened state is implied by Chauvelin.

### [XXVII: In the Conciergerie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii-in-the-conciergerie)

Imprisoned in the Conciergerie; Marguerite is allowed to visit him, but he is not directly seen in this chapter.

### [XXVIII: The Caged Lion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxviii-the-caged-lion)

Imprisoned and weakened, yet retains his spirit and sense of purpose; gives Marguerite instructions for his escape.

### [XXIX: For the Sake of That Helpless Innocent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxix-for-the-sake-of-that-helpless-innocent)

Haggard but resolute, he gives Marguerite hidden letters and insists on saving the Dauphin at all costs, then collapses and later fights soldiers.

### [XXX: Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx-afterwards)

Though not physically present, his memory and his final plea to Marguerite dominate her thoughts and actions.

### [XXXI: An Interlude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi-an-interlude)

Imprisoned in the Châtelet, his cryptic words are analyzed for hidden meaning; Marguerite fears for his mental state.

### [Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii-sisters)

Referred to as the Scarlet Pimpernel; his capture and imprisonment are a source of grief for Armand and Marguerite.

### [Little Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiii-little-mother)

Referenced through the letter he sends to Armand via Marguerite.

### [The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiv-the-letter)

Writes a letter to Armand, forgiving his betrayal and offering a path to redemption through loyalty.

### [The Last Phase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxv-the-last-phase)

Shows extraordinary resilience and defiance under torture and starvation, mocking Chauvelin and refusing to betray the Dauphin.

### [Submission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvi-submission)

Broken by starvation and exhaustion, he offers to lead his captors to the Dauphin but is unable to give clear directions.

### [Chauvelin's Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvii-chauvelin-s-advice)

The prisoner in the cell, whose compliance is to be coerced through threats to his wife and friend.

### [Capitulation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxviii-capitulation)

Dictates a letter under Chauvelin's orders, showing a mix of mockery and hidden strength despite physical exhaustion.

### [XXXIX: Kill Him!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxix-kill-him)

Referenced as the prisoner who wrote the letter; his instructions guide Armand's actions; his life is at stake in the exchange.

### [God Help Us All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xl-god-help-us-all)

His charred letter is copied by Armand; his instructions are obeyed by Armand.

### [XLI: When Hope Was Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xli-when-hope-was-dead)

His sealed packet, written ten days earlier, contains final instructions for Marguerite and Ffoulkes, including a letter to de Batz and plans for the Dauphin's escape.

### [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)

The prisoner inside the hackney coach, in irons, guarded by Héron; accepts Chauvelin's conditions after a tense moment.

### [The Dreary Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xliii-the-dreary-journey)

Travels in a separate coach, seen only briefly; reported by Chauvelin to be calm and often asleep.

### [The Halt at Crècy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xliv-the-halt-at-cr-cy)

Imprisoned in the coach with Héron, he is the object of Marguerite's desperate concern.

### [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)

Unconscious and locked inside the chapel under guard; heard groaning.

### [XLVIII: The Waning Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlviii-the-waning-moon)

Disguised as a citizen agent, he rescues Marguerite and Armand, revealing his identity with a laugh.

### [The Land of Eldorado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-iii-xlix-the-land-of-eldorado)

Narrates his escape plan, impersonates Héron, and leads the group to safety, advising Armand on love.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/characters