# Citizen Chauvelin — The Elusive Pimpernel character guide > Citizen Chauvelin in The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Chauvelin, Monsieur Chauvelin, Ambassador Chauvelin **First appearance:** 0002-i-paris-1793 ## Snapshot A disgraced French agent with a mind like a trap, staking his life on one last scheme to catch the Englishman who humiliated him. ## Who they are Chauvelin returns to England as the Committee of Public Safety's most patient hunter, having already failed once to snare the Scarlet Pimpernel. He knows the enemy's weakness is not vanity but love, and he builds his plan around Lady Blakeney with the cold precision of a man who has nothing left to lose. His letters to Robespierre promise a capture in four days; the novel's tension is whether his cleverness will outrun his quarry's nerve. ## Relationships ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Chauvelin is obsessively hunting Sir Percy, the Scarlet Pimpernel, as his primary enemy in revolutionary France. ### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates and threatens Marguerite to force her cooperation in capturing her husband, Sir Percy. ### [Collot d'Herbois](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/collot_d_herbois) _professional_ Chauvelin and Collot d'Herbois are colleagues in the revolutionary government, working together on political matters. ### [Robespierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/robespierre) _professional_ Chauvelin reports to and collaborates with Robespierre as part of the revolutionary leadership. ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Chauvelin is obsessively hunting Sir Percy, the Scarlet Pimpernel, as his primary enemy in revolutionary France. ### [Sir Percy Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/sir_percy_blakeney) _rivalry_ Chauvelin is obsessively hunting Sir Percy, the Scarlet Pimpernel, as his primary enemy in revolutionary France. ### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates and threatens Marguerite to force her cooperation in capturing her husband, Sir Percy. ### [Marguerite Blakeney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/marguerite_blakeney) _psychological_ Chauvelin manipulates and threatens Marguerite to force her cooperation in capturing her husband, Sir Percy. ### [Robespierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/robespierre) _professional_ Chauvelin reports to and collaborates with Robespierre as part of the revolutionary leadership. ### [Collot d'Herbois](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/collot_d_herbois) _professional_ Chauvelin and Collot d'Herbois are colleagues in the revolutionary government, working together on political matters. ### [Collot d'Herbois](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/collot_d_herbois) _professional_ Chauvelin and Collot d'Herbois are colleagues in the revolutionary government, working together on political matters. ### [Robespierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/robespierre) _professional_ Chauvelin reports to and collaborates with Robespierre as part of the revolutionary leadership. ## In the story ### [The Elusive Pimpernel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/the-elusive-pimpernel) Chauvelin is determined to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel, using every means at his disposal to outwit his elusive foe. ### [II: A Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/ii-a-retrospect) Sits opposite Robespierre, haunted by memories of his defeat in London and the mocking rhyme of the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [III: Ex-Ambassador Chauvelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/iii-ex-ambassador-chauvelin) Chauvelin is confronted by Robespierre about his past failure and is given a new mission to lure the Scarlet Pimpernel to France. ### [VII: Premonition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/vii-premonition) Appears humbled and defeated, seeking Marguerite's forgiveness and pardon. ### [The Invitation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/viii-the-invitation) Confronts Percy with controlled irritation; his presence is part of a larger plot against the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [IX: Demoiselle Candeille](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/ix-demoiselle-candeille) Ex-Ambassador who meets Candeille at the 'Cercle des Jacobins Francais' in Soho. He recruits her to play a part in his schemes and delivers the diamond necklace as a reward from the French government. ### [Lady Blakeney's Rout](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/x-lady-blakeney-s-rout) Arrives with Candeille, dressed in black, and is viewed by Marguerite as the orchestrator of a hidden plot. ### [The Challenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xi-the-challenge) Orchestrates the scene, challenges Sir Percy to a duel. ### [XII: Time—Place—Conditions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xii-time-place-conditions) Hesitates over the swords, suspects poison, but accepts the challenge; inwardly plans to surround the ramparts with troops. ### [XIII: Reflections](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xiii-reflections) Leaves the party to avoid Marguerite, writes to Robespierre to shift responsibility, and ponders Sir Percy's motives, fearing a subtle counterplot. ### [XIV: The Ruling Passion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xiv-the-ruling-passion) Referenced as the dark bird of prey and the orchestrator of the plot against Percy. ### [The Passport](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xvi-the-passport) The architect of the trap against Percy; Marguerite plans to dog his footsteps in Boulogne. ### [Boulogne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xvii-boulogne) Implied orchestrator of the trap; his influence is seen when he passes through the checkpoint with authority, and his scheme to entrap Marguerite is revealed. ### [No. 6](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xviii-no-6) Implied as the orchestrator of Marguerite's capture; she recalls him leading the crowd on the landing stage. ### [Triumph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xx-triumph) Sends two letters to Paris: the first guarantees the Pimpernel's capture; the second announces the capture of the Pimpernel's wife and requests reinforcements. ### [XXI: Suspense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxi-suspense) Masterminds the trap and relishes his revenge; stays in his quarters at the Hotel de Ville and orders Marguerite brought before him. ### [XXII: Not Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxii-not-death) Conducts a psychological interrogation, proposing an 'unless' bargain and revealing his plot to entrap Sir Percy. ### [The Hostage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxiii-the-hostage) Explains his scheme to Marguerite: she is the hostage, and the city of Boulogne will be punished if she escapes, while amnesty is offered if the Scarlet Pimpernel is captured. ### [Colleagues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxiv-colleagues) Chauvelin outlines his plan to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel with a duel at the Angelus, aiming to destroy him through dishonor and ridicule rather than immediate death. ### [The Unexpected](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxv-the-unexpected) Gloats over having Marguerite in his power and plots to use her to trap the Scarlet Pimpernel. ### [XXVI: The Terms of the Bargain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxvi-the-terms-of-the-bargain) Chauvelin orchestrates the bargain, reading aloud the draft letter that would brand Sir Percy as a spy. He exults in the prospect of humiliating the Scarlet Pimpernel, revealing his deep hatred and desire for revenge. ### [The Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxvii-the-decision) Triumphant in his manipulation, he secures Sir Percy's agreement to the letter and signature. ### [XXX: The Procession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxx-the-procession) Mentioned as having ordered Candeille to participate in the fête and having informed her that the Blakeneys are under arrest. ### [XXXI: Final Dispositions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxxi-final-dispositions) Restless and apprehensive, he oversees the final arrangements, confident that Sir Percy will write the infamous letter to save Marguerite. ### [The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxxii-the-letter) Chauvelin orchestrates the plan for the Angelus signal and observes Sir Percy's apparent drunkenness, feeling contempt yet nervous anticipation. ### [The English Spy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-english-spy) Nervous and triumphant, he watches Sir Percy write, but is outwitted when the lights are extinguished and the prisoner escapes. ### [XXXIV: The Angelus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-angelus) Realizes he has been tricked, is physically overpowered, gagged, and left bound by Blakeney. ### [XXXV: Marguerite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/chapters/xxxv-marguerite) Left helpless, bound and gagged within his own stronghold after being overpowered by Sir Percy. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters/citizen_chauvelin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_elusive_pimpernel_se/characters