“Your brother or the shadow
The choice is so very clear”
Cackling, the French agent
Rubbing his hands drew near.
“Your brother was indiscreet
His life hangs by a thread
Spy for me, my lady
Or Armand will be dead.”
Part of the noble gang
One of the twenty and one
Armand alone for a cause
The other fops were having fun.
Leading the Frenchmen astray
Denying lovers to the guillotine
Through
A wilder chase not seen.
No finer hero than this one
Fearless leader of the band
No one knew him, only heard
His daring through the land.
And now a trusted companion’s
Identity to the French known
And Armand or the brave leader
A crueler alternative not shown.
Long struggled about decision
Alone worried about her choice
To husband, soul mate in name only,
Her dilemma could not voice.
He had never forgiven her
For what seemed so slight
And they had not spoken much
Since her wedding night.
So she fretted and wondered
Till brotherly love holds sway
And to save Armand
The Pimpernel decides to betray.
A glittering ball in the evening
Perfect hair and dress, she will dance
Lure another handsome trooper
Armand’s fate on that chance.
Alluringly beautiful, very witty
Only a blind man would say no
Crumpled note about the meeting
From his hands wrests it so.
Holding the crumpled paper
Even as he tries to set it aflame
She glances at the rendezvous time
Pretending its just a teasing game.
“A billet doux from your lady”
False gaiety but she plays her part
Later the conniving Frenchman
She faces with a beating heart.
Save the life of a beloved brother
Risk the gallant leader’s head
Open her mouth and speak….
How she wishes she were dead.
… to those who wish to know if Marguerite St. Just Blakeney told the oily Frenchman the contents of the note, the rest of the story and the details of how Armand had been so careless are in “The Scarlet Pimpernel” by Baroness Orczy.
This poem just a small tribute to that wonderful story.
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