Scarlet Pimpernel (House of Stratus)

The year is 1623, the place Haarlem in the Netherlands. Diogenes – the first Sir Percy Blakeney, the Scarlet Pimpernel's ancestor – and his friends Pythagoras and Socrates defend justice and the royalist cause. The famous artist Frans Hals also makes an appearance in this historical adventure. Orczy maintains that Hal's celebrated portrait of 'The Laughing Cavalier' is actually a portrayal of the Scarlet Pimpernel's ancestor.

The story starts in 1624 in the Netherlands and concerns the Scarlet Pimpernel's ancestor, Diogenes, aka the first Sir Percy Blakeney. Diogenes and his friends Socrates and Pythagoras swear allegiance to the royalist cause. Their undivided loyalty results in many adventures – and more than one foe.

In this, the sequel to 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', French agent and chief spy-catcher Chauvelin is as crafty as ever, but Sir Percy Blakeney is more than a match for his arch-enemy. Meanwhile the beautiful Marguerite remains wholly devoted to Sir Percy, her husband. Cue more swashbuckling adventures as Sir Percy attempts to smuggle French aristocrats out of the country to safety.

For young and pretty Fleurette the revolution seems far away, until an aristocratic neighbouring family is threatened. Now, the dangers are all too real, and she is also accused of being a traitor. Can her father save her? Fleurette's father is – ironically – Armand Chauvelin. For the first time the villainous agent is forced to ask his arch-enemy, the heroic Scarlet Pimpernel, for help.

More adventures amongst the terrors of revolutionary France. No one has uncovered the identity of the famous Scarlet Pimpernel – no one except his wife Marguerite and his arch-enemy, citizen Chauvelin. Sir Percy Blakeney is still at large however, evading capture!