# Socrates — The First Sir Percy character guide

> Socrates in The First Sir Percy by Baroness Orczy.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0000-i-a-night-on-the-veluwe

## Snapshot

One of Diogenes's two boon companions, a philosopher-soldier whose sudden collapse on the quay shatters a wedding day's gaiety and pulls the plot toward darker ground.

## Who they are

Socrates belongs to the raffish trio of sword-sellers — with Diogenes and the potbellied Pythagoras — who haunt the edges of respectable Dutch life. When he is lifted, groaning, from his horse at the height of the Beresteyn festivities, his mysterious injury interrupts the celebration and forces Gilda to trade romance for command. His suffering draws the Stadtholder's physician and the whole household into a hushed, anxious vigil.

## In the story

### [The Double Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii-the-double-wedding)

Diogenes' friend, whose lean face and weary demeanor signal impending tragedy and a return to the warpath.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vii)

Arrives on horseback with Pythagoras, his lean appearance and nod confirming to Diogenes that fighting lies ahead.

### [III: The Great Interruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii-the-great-interruption)

Helps lift Pythagoras off the pillion on the quay.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i)

Helps Diogenes lift Pythagoras off the pillion.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii)

Lies wounded with bullet wounds, feverish but insistent on reaching Amersfoort.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv)

Present in the sickroom, occasionally commenting or snoring in the corner.

### [IV: Adder's Fork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv-adder-s-fork)

Left behind grumbling when Diogenes refuses his company on the ride, ordered to look after Pythagoras.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i)

Left behind grumbling, ordered by Diogenes to look after Pythagoras.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/v)

Glimpsed briefly by Gilda in the crowd, but does not respond to her call.

### [Devil's-Writ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/viii-devil-s-writ)

Socrates rescues Diogenes after the stabbing, binds his wound, and follows him in the pursuit of the Stadtholder.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i)

Patrols the ramparts on horseback, takes command upon Diogenes' arrival, and plans to secure a fresh horse.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii)

Receives the wounded Diogenes, binds his wound, and follows him to the marketplace.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv)

Watches Diogenes and comments on the situation, then joins the pursuit.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vii)

Attempts to chase the assassin, fires pistol shots, returns to help Diogenes.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/viii)

Mentioned as having gone on with the Stadtholder.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vii)

Pursues Stoutenburg with Pythagoras, hesitates out of respect for Gilda.

### [XVI: The Final Issue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xvi-the-final-issue)

One of Diogenes' loyal familiars, who recruits a band of ruffians and spreads false rumors to aid the plan.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i)

Faithful friend who accompanies the Stadtholder and later returns to watch over the blinded Diogenes alongside Pythagoras.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii)

Loyal companion tasked with recruiting a troop of ruffians from fugitives on the moorlands.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/socrates
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters