Chapter VII: Parry – The King in Exile

Spoiler Notice: This page reveals plot details from Chapter VII: Parry of Between Two Kings. Read ahead only after you've finished the chapter.

Summary

The chapter opens in an inn in Blois where the mysterious stranger, later revealed as Charles II, watches the town from his window. Maître Cropole, the innkeeper, enters and informs him that the diamond has been sold for two hundred eighty pistoles. Charles tells him to take what is owed, and Cropole deposits the bulging purse on the sideboard, paying himself. Charles asks only for wine and bread and remains at his post.

A commotion outside announces the arrival of King Louis XIV’s grand procession. Torches, musketeers, courtiers, and the young king himself pass on a fine horse, bowing to the crowd. As Charles watches from the balcony, his heart swells with bitter jealousy; he murmurs in despair, calling the other a true king. After the spectacle fades, the inn’s household buzzes with admiration, but an old man leads a horse through the crowd. Charles calls down for him to be let in.

The old man is Parry, Charles’s servant who has come from England. Charles embraces him and insists he rest, but Parry delivers his report: the general he approached refused to see him, returned his letter, and threatened arrest. Parry was forcibly sent back to Brittany. Charles listens, stifling sobs. Parry’s news is the final blow. Charles, in a bitter tirade, contrasts Louis XIV’s splendor with his own family’s destitution—his mother and sister begging for bread while the French king marries a rich bride. Declaring that he too will beg, Charles belts on his sword, grabs the bag of pistoles, and slips out into the night, leaving Parry behind in despair.

Key Events

Cropole sells the stranger’s last diamond for 280 pistoles and puts the money aside.
The royal procession of Louis XIV passes the inn; Charles watches with envy and anguish.
Parry arrives from England, bringing news of the final rejection by an English general.
Charles learns that Parry was expelled under guard and sent back to France.
In a rage of humiliation, Charles resolves to beg on the streets, taking the coin purse and his sword.

Character Development

Charles II (the stranger): This chapter reveals his identity and his profound despair. Earlier perseverance and will are now tested to breaking point. He oscillates between bitter irony and a desperate decision to embrace beggary, showing both pride and utter degradation. His gesture of taking the pistol-filled bag and arming himself suggests a man clinging to the last shreds of autonomy.

Parry: The faithful old servant embodies loyalty and sacrifice. Despite his age and the perilous journey, he carried out his master’s orders and now faces Charles’s anguish with trepidation and sorrow. His refusal to sit before his “Milord” underscores his deep reverence.

Maître Cropole: The innkeeper remains a minor figure but his transaction with the diamond illustrates the economic reality pressing on Charles—the literal selling of the past for survival.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The contrast of kingship: Louis XIV’s triumphant procession—torches, fanfares, adoring crowds—is juxtaposed with the exiled Charles, who has no crown, no money, and no hope. The chapter explicitly compares “that is a king” to Charles’s own plight.
Poverty and humiliation: The diamond, the last remnant of royal wealth, is sold for lodging. The bag of gold becomes a tool of both charity (paying the innkeeper) and despair (Charles takes it to beg).
Loyalty in exile: Parry’s unwavering service contrasts with the political rejection Charles faces. Yet even Parry’s devotion cannot shield Charles from the harshness of his situation.
Resignation and perseverance: The chapter begins with Charles professing his will and perseverance, but Parry’s news forces him into a state of bitter resignation, which he then transforms into a perverse determination to beg.
Darkness and light: The torch-lit procession illuminates the street while Charles remains in shadow, eventually slipping away into darkness—symbolizing his descent into obscurity and hardship.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter VII marks a turning point for Charles II. Up to now, he has pursued his restoration with determination, selling family jewels and traveling incognito. The double blow—witnessing the glory of Louis XIV and receiving Parry’s definitive rejection—shatters his remaining illusions. His decision to “beg” signals not passive defeat but a grim, almost theatrical acceptance of his status. This sets the stage for his future actions and the internal transformation that will define the novel’s arc. It also deepens the historical parallel between the Stuart and Bourbon monarchies, highlighting the fragility of royal legitimacy.

Study Questions and Answers

How does the description of Louis XIV’s procession serve to illuminate Charles II’s inner state?
The lavish parade of torchlight, musketeers, and adoring shouts underscores everything Charles has lost. By watching from a darkened balcony, he sees the embodiment of legitimate kingship while he himself is a fugitive selling diamonds for rent. The contrast fills him with “bitter jealousy” and prompts the despairing cry, “That is a king!” It externalizes his sense of inadequacy and abandonment.
What is the significance of the diamond transaction and the bag of pistoles?
The diamond represents the last tangible link to Charles’s royal past. Its sale for a mere 280 pistoles—enough to pay the inn and provide a small hoard—shows how far he has fallen. When he later takes the bag and declares they are rich “as rich as kings,” the irony is devastating: the coins now symbolize not wealth but the price of his dignity, which he plans to dispense in begging.
Why does Parry’s failure push Charles to the decision to beg, rather than simply sink into despair?
Parry’s expulsion confirms there is no path back through diplomacy or appeals. The rejection leaves Charles with only his own body and will. His proclamation that he will beg is both a surrender to his family’s practice and a twisted act of defiance: he will perform the role of a king so destitute that he must ask for alms, forcing the world to acknowledge his plight. It is a moment of tragic agency born from total powerlessness.