# The Dauphin — El Dorado character guide

> The Dauphin in El Dorado by Baroness Orczy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** little Capet, Capet, Louis Capet, young Capet, Louis XVII

**First appearance:** 0006-part-i-v-the-temple-prison

## Snapshot

The child king in waiting, whose rescue from Revolutionary France has become the fixed star by which Sir Percy Blakeney steers — and suffers.

## Who they are

Known to his captors only as little Capet, the boy is less a presence than an obligation: the living pledge that binds the League's honour and Percy's own. His friends at Mantes resist letting him leave France, and every day of delay tightens the screws on the man who has sworn to see him safe. Around this unseen child the novel's early tension coils — a rescue that cannot wait, and a rescuer who will not abandon it.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Chauvelin views the Dauphin as a key pawn in revolutionary power games, using him for political leverage.

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

_professional_

Chauvelin views the Dauphin as a key pawn in revolutionary power games, using him for political leverage.

## In the story

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

Mentioned by de Batz and Jeanne; Jeanne expresses deep sorrow and helplessness regarding his imprisonment.

### [The Most Precious Life in Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-most-precious-life-in-europe)

The Dauphin (Louis Capet) is found drunk, reciting a corrupted catechism and prayer. He is roughly handled by Simon and falls into a drunken sleep, symbolizing his degradation and the tragedy of his situation.

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

The imprisoned son of King Louis; Héron is obsessed with preventing his escape and plans to make him unfit for kingship.

### [The Removal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xviii-the-removal)

Referred to as 'little Capet,' locked in the inner room of the tower during the removal.

### [It Is About the Dauphin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_dorado_se/chapters/part-i-xix-it-is-about-the-dauphin)

The Dauphin has been secretly removed from the Temple, replaced by a dummy.

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

Successfully rescued from the Temple prison and handed over to Hastings and Tony for transport to Mantes.

### [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)

The helpless innocent; Percy plans his escape to Holland via Delft.

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

Referenced as 'little Capet,' the child whose location Chauvelin and Héron are desperate to extract from Sir Percy.

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

Percy's plan involves de Batz helping to save the Dauphin; Tony has already taken him toward Holland.

## Links

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