Identity and Disguise
The central plot revolves around Léonie's disguise as a boy page, her hidden noble birth, and the revelation of her true identity as the Comte de Saint-Vire's daughter, exploring how appearance and social roles can be manipulated.
Where it surfaces
These Old Shades
The Duke's interest in Léon is sparked by a resemblance to someone else, hinting at hidden identities and the theme of disguise that will unfold.
Introducing the Comte de Saint-Vire
Léon's mysterious origins and his transformation from a grimy child to a neat page hint at hidden identity and performance.
His Grace of Avon Becomes Further Acquainted with His Page
Léon's mysterious origins are probed by Saint-Vire, and Avon's cryptic responses hint at hidden truths about the page's identity.
His Grace of Avon Refuses to Sell His Page
Léon is revealed to be a girl named Léonie, disguised as a boy for seven years by her brother. The Duke uncovers this secret and confronts Bonnard.
VII: Satan and Priest at One
Léonie's true identity is hidden; she has been raised as a boy and is suspected to be the legitimate daughter of the Comte de Saint-Vire, switched at birth.
VIII: Hugh Davenant Is Amazed
The central revelation that Léon is Léonie and the Duke's knowledge of the disguise drive the chapter's conflict.
Power and Control
The Duke of Avon exerts power through wealth, manipulation, and the purchase of Léonie 'body and soul,' while the Comte de Saint-Vire uses threats and coercion, highlighting the dynamics of dominance in relationships and society.
Where it surfaces
These Old Shades
The Duke of Avon exerts his power and wealth by purchasing Léon from his brother, demonstrating the control the aristocracy held over the lives of the lower classes.
I: His Grace of Avon Buys a Soul
Avon purchases Léon 'body and soul,' exercising absolute authority over the boy's fate.
Introducing the Comte de Saint-Vire
Avon exerts control over Léon through interrogation and commands, while also using him as a tool to unsettle Saint-Vire.
III: Which Tells of a Debt Unpaid
Avon's deliberate, controlled approach to vengeance and his crushing of the snuffbox symbolize his desire for dominance.
His Grace of Avon Becomes Further Acquainted with His Page
Avon's calm, soft-spoken authority over his household and his manipulation of social interactions demonstrate his control, while Gaston's tale reveals the ruthless power of wealth and gambling.
His Grace of Avon Visits Versailles
Avon exerts control over Léon through the gift of the sapphire chain, insisting it is his pleasure that Léon wear it, and through his commanding presence at Versailles.
Redemption and Moral Complexity
Despite his reputation as 'Satanas,' Avon protects Léonie, refuses to make her his mistress, and ultimately acts selflessly, suggesting that even a morally ambiguous character can seek redemption through genuine care.
Where it surfaces
I: His Grace of Avon Buys a Soul
Avon's rescue of Léon is ambiguous—part whim, part potential redemption, yet tinged with exploitation.
XVIII: The Indignation of Mr. Manvers
Avon's past enmity with Merivale is set aside, and Jennifer's forgiveness suggests a path toward redemption.
His Grace of Avon Takes Command of the Game
Avon's long-standing grudge against Saint-Vire and his calculated patience suggest a complex moral landscape of revenge and justice.
XXXI: His Grace of Avon Wins All
Avon admits he initially bought Léonie as a weapon for revenge, but his actions now show genuine care and moral growth.
His Grace of Avon Astonishes Everyone for the Last Time
Madame de Saint-Vire's confession and the resolution of past wrongs suggest redemption.
Social Class and Scandal
The book examines rigid class structures, the scandal of Léonie's lowly origins and masquerade, and how society's judgment threatens both her and Avon's standing in the Polite World.
Where it surfaces
I: His Grace of Avon Buys a Soul
The transaction between a wealthy duke and a gutter child underscores rigid class divisions.
Introducing the Comte de Saint-Vire
The contrast between Léon's humble farming background and his presence among aristocrats highlights class tensions.
III: Which Tells of a Debt Unpaid
The insult to Avon's honor stems from Saint-Vire's view of him as beneath the Saint-Vire family, highlighting class tensions and public scandal.
His Grace of Avon Visits Versailles
The chapter highlights social hierarchies: Avon's magnificent dress and rapid coach outshine others, and the Vicomte's lack of polish contrasts with courtly expectations.
VII: Satan and Priest at One
The potential scandal of a noble child raised as a commoner and the implications for inheritance and social standing drive the plot.
XI: Mr. Marling's Heart Is Won
Edward Marling's initial concern about Léonie's presence reflects the era's anxiety over scandal and propriety, especially given her past as a boy page.
Family and Belonging
Léonie's search for family is central, moving from an abusive pseudo-brother to Avon's protection, and finally to the discovery of her biological parents, exploring themes of loyalty, rejection, and chosen versus blood family.
Where it surfaces
VIII: Hugh Davenant Is Amazed
The Duke's plan to adopt Léonie as his ward and provide her a home reflects themes of creating family bonds.
Lady Fanny's Virtue Is Outraged
Léonie is placed under the care of Lady Fanny, creating a new familial bond. Her emotional reaction to Avon's departure underscores her need for belonging and security.
XI: Mr. Marling's Heart Is Won
The chapter explores Léonie's integration into the Marling household as a ward, highlighting themes of adoption and the creation of new familial bonds.
XII: His Grace of Avon’s Ward
Léonie declares she belongs to Avon, and he takes her to his home, Avon.
XIV: The Appearance on the Scene of Lord Rupert Alastair
Léonie finds a sense of belonging with the Merivale family, contrasting with her isolated position as the Duke's ward.
Lord Rupert Makes the Acquaintance of Léonie
Rupert's visit and his candid discussion of family feuds (e.g., Justin vs. Merivale) highlight the fractured Alastair family dynamics.
Gender Roles and Performance
Léonie's life as a boy and later transformation into a lady highlight the performative nature of gender, as she navigates expectations of masculinity, femininity, and propriety in 18th-century society.
Where it surfaces
IX: Léon and Léonie
Léonie must learn to perform femininity—curtsying, using a fan, simpering—to conform to societal expectations of a young lady.
Lady Fanny's Virtue Is Outraged
Léonie's forced transition from boy's to girl's clothing highlights the performative nature of gender, as she struggles with the constraints of women's attire and the societal expectations placed upon her.
XI: Mr. Marling's Heart Is Won
Léonie's discomfort with skirts and her insistence on keeping breeches underscore the performance of gender and her struggle with societal expectations.
Lord Rupert Makes the Acquaintance of Léonie
Léonie's request to fence and her wearing of breeches challenge contemporary gender norms, while Rupert's amusement reflects a tolerant view.
Revenge and Forgiveness
Avon's initial plan to use Léonie as a weapon against Saint-Vire for a past slight evolves into a more complex relationship, questioning whether vengeance can be tempered by affection and moral growth.
Where it surfaces
III: Which Tells of a Debt Unpaid
Avon's twenty-year wait for vengeance against Saint-Vire is the central focus, framed as a cold, calculated pursuit of justice.
XVI: The Coming of the Comte de Saint-Vire
Rupert suspects that the Duke has not forgotten his quarrel with Saint-Vire and may be plotting something, suggesting unresolved conflict and potential revenge.
XXI: The Discomfiture of the Comte de Saint-Vire
Avon hints at future punishment for Saint-Vire, stating 'the day comes when I shall punish him' and 'there will be no mercy for him at my hands.'
The Arrival of Another Player in the Game
Avon explicitly states his intention to make Saint-Vire pay in full for the attack on Léonie and for past wrongs.
His Grace of Avon Trumps the Comte's Ace
Avon's deliberate, theatrical exposure of Saint-Vire's crime is an act of calculated revenge, designed to make him suffer as his daughter suffered.
Love and Sacrifice
Avon's love for Léonie is expressed through sacrifice—refusing to marry her due to his age and reputation, and letting her go to her family—demonstrating that true love sometimes requires letting go.
Where it surfaces
His Grace of Avon Becomes Further Acquainted with His Page
Léon's unwavering loyalty and declaration of love for Avon contrast with the Duke's admission of never having loved anyone, highlighting the theme of sacrificial devotion.
The Arrival of Another Player in the Game
Avon's protective love for Léonie is evident in his vow to crush Saint-Vire, and Rupert observes that Avon has fallen in love with her.
Mr. Marling Allows Himself to Be Persuaded
Fanny argues that love overrides family duty, using her own marriage to Edward as an example; Avon's affection for Léonie is evident.
XXIV: Hugh Davenant Is Agreeably Surprised
Avon's tender care for Léonie hints at a deeper affection, and Hugh sees this as a path to Avon's salvation.
The Hand of Madame de Verchoureux
Léonie's love for Avon leads her to consider sacrificing her own happiness to avoid dragging him down in society's eyes.
The Disappearance of Léonie
Léonie leaves Avon to protect his reputation, believing her presence would bring scandal; Avon admits he loves her too well to marry her.
