Marguerite would redeem her brother's life at the hands of the relentless enemy, then let that cunning Scarlet Pimpernel extricate himself after that.
Perhaps--vaguely--Marguerite hoped that the daring plotter, who for so many months had baffled an army of spies, would still manage to evade Chauvelin and remain immune to the end.
She thought of all this, as she sat listening to the witty discourse of the Cabinet Minister, who, no doubt, felt that he had found in Lady Blakeney a most perfect listener.

Suddenly she saw the keen, fox-like face of Chauvelin peeping through the curtained doorway.
"Lord Fancourt," she said to the Minister, "will you do me a service ?" "I am entirely at your ladyship's service," he replied gallantly.
"Will you see if my husband is still in the card-room?
And if he is, will you tell him that I am very tired, and would be glad to go home soon." The commands of a beautiful woman are binding on all mankind, even on Cabinet Ministers.

Lord Fancourt prepared to obey instantly.
"I do not like to leave your ladyship alone," he said.
"Never fear.

I shall be quite safe here--and, I think, undisturbed.

.