So it's winter and cold in Paris, but soldiers are patrolling every street because the Scarlet Pimpernel is known to be in the city, and Citizen Chauvelin has promised a reward to whoever catches him. They have a tally of every inn, they are searching every rented house, surely they will have that dastardly spy before morning! There is nowhere for him to hide, no place that the soldiers won't think to look!
---
Chauvelin is understandably mad to be woken up in the middle of the night by Percy slipping into his narrow bed, but Percy is like "What are you gonna do? Shout for the landlord? Fetch the soldiers? Do you really expect them to believe that the naked man in your bed is the Scarlet Pimpernel?"
Chauvelin, alarmed: "Are you naked? You are not naked!"
Percy, clearly grinning like a bastard even in the pitch dark: "No, but I could be if the situation called for it."
Chauvelin splutters a bit before realising that Percy is an incredible source of heat and honestly sleeping in his arms is gonna give Chauvelin the best rest he's had in weeks. Also at least he knows where his enemy is now.
"Fine," he grumbles. "I will arrest you in the morning."
Percy makes himself comfortable and tucks Chauvelin close. "Mmm, we'll take that as it comes."
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“She will not watch! This is unheard of! You demned, vulgar-! And you say the French are deviants! What sort of perverted-!”
“I told you he was a proper little maid,” said Sir Percy to his wife, who was laughing silently. Sir Percy sat down on the broad side of the tub and crooked a finger at Chauvelin, who had once more escaped as far back in the water as he could get. “You are being very provoking, little mouse. You know what happens when you provoke me.”
“Ha! You would not dare, not in front of your lady!” Chauvelin said triumphantly.
A moment later, Sir Percy had made a sporting lunge across the tub with his ridiculous reach, and managed despite slippery hands to grab Chauvelin and pull him in, splashing water everywhere.
And then he took Chauvelin’s neck in a firm grip and bent down and kissed him.
Chauvelin would have liked to keep resisting, but as soon as Sir Percy’s lips were on his, his whole body relaxed, turning pliant in surrender.
For weeks Sir Percy had been, as far as Chauvelin knew, the only person in the world who still cared for him. His constant attentions, his persistent affection, and his gentle, intimate care, day by day had worked on Chauvelin’s hatred, which was already confused and baffled by the rescue in Orange, not only of Fleurette but also of himself, unlooked for and undeserved. Chauvelin may not understand the love he was being shown, he may fear its power to change and shame him, and he may still be resisting it in his mind, but his body had learned to eagerly welcome Sir Percy’s familiar and masterful touch.
When the long kiss ended, Chauvelin sank down and leaned his forehead against Sir Percy’s thigh to catch his breath.
“And now he is getting my trousers wet. See? Constant provocations. ‘tis a wonder I get anything done, I say, while this naughty little mouse racks up a bill of kisses.”
“Have you none left over then, Percy?”
The feminine tone, the gentle plea for affection; Chauvelin immediately tried to back away as Marguerite Blakeney sank down on the seat next to her husband, but once again that strong hand was around his neck, holding him in place. And so he stayed with his cheek pressed against Sir Percy’s thigh while above him came the soft sounds of more kisses being bestowed, this time on lips that deserved them. Then Marguerite’s sweet hand was on his cheek again, and he closed his eyes, and since her palm was close to his mouth, he turned his face into it and kissed it in mute submission.
"Sir Percy Explains" from League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1919)
So apparently, Chauvelin can recognise Percy in disguise but only if he's allowed to gaze into the man's pretty twinkling eyes for long enough, and also Percy is so goddamned happy to play with his little ferret that he can't fucking help himself but has to break character to laugh for him just to see the blood rushing to his face, and you'd better believe Chauvelin will FUCKING SWOON because being in the presence of his crush arch enemy is so overwhelming.
The final chapter of Sir Percy Hits Back fucks me up, guys. It fucks me up so bad.
(Spoilers though not for the plot just for the final state of things:)
Chauvelin being terrified of Percy because at this point Percy is so far above him morally that the only thing Chauvelin can give to repay him is his life, but mind you it is not dying that scares him, it's Percy, the overwhelming force for good that Chauvelin has begun to wonder how he ever thought he could conquer.
Chauvelin being so completely broken by the events of the past few weeks and so full of gratitude for what Percy has done for him that he is more at peace with the idea of Percy sending him to his death than he is with being left alive. He expects Percy to take his life and considers it fairly owed.
The two seconds of silence from Percy when he realises the above.
Sir Percy delivering perhaps the cruelest blow he could possibly deal when he declares he is completely indifferent to Chauvelin's fate. The greatest fear of most nemeses is not to be killed by their arch-enemy but to mean nothing to them. "La, man! What should I do with your worthless life?" Fuck, Percy!
And then the really weird bit where Percy almost loses his cool because ... Hang on I have to quote this one:
"What happens to you after that I neither know nor care. You have tried to do me such an infinity of wrong at different times, you still hate me so cordially, you——"
He paused for a moment with firm lips tightly pressed together and slender hand clutched upon his knee.
Why are you mad that he hates you?? Why are you mad about that? PERCY! You just said you didn't care! You can be mad about the torture and what he's done to Marguerite, but why are you lumping in the fact that he hates you???
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“When will you return to England, Sir Percy?” queried Chauvelin with good-natured sarcasm.
“At the turn of the tide to-morrow eve, Monsieur,” replied Blakeney.
“In company with Lady Blakeney?”
“Certainly, sir... and yours if you will honour us with your company.”
The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
"Hey, babe, how about you stop trying to kill me and get on this polycule instead?"
*reads on*
HANG ON WOAH WOAH WOAH
“Passons, Monsieur... you are dying to say something further... I pray you proceed... your engaging countenance is becoming quite interesting in its seriousness.”
“What I wish to say to you, Sir Percy, is in the nature of a proposed bargain.”
“Indeed?... Monsieur, you are full of surprises... like a pretty woman.... And pray what are the terms of this proposed bargain?”
“Your side of the bargain, Sir Percy, or mine? Which will you hear first?”
“Oh yours, Monsieur... yours, I pray you.... Have I not said that you are like a pretty woman?... Place aux dames, sir! always!”
Chauvelin's mind became more and more familiarized with the vision of his Fleurette snatched out of the jaws of death by the man with the lazy eyes and the mocking lips, the demmed, elusive Pimpernel of his day-dreams and his sleepless nights.
