Meet Chauvelin

"We seek him here, we seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven?—Is he in hell?
That demmed, elusive Pimpernel."

- Sir Percy Blakeney, The Scarlet Pimpernel

If you are unfamiliar with The Scarlet Pimpernel, you are definitely missing out. A fabulous book and an even better musical (probably one of the best I've ever seen), it is a tale of intrigue, danger, and romance. Set somewhere between 1789–1799 during the French Revolution, Sir Percy Blakeney is an Englishman who takes it upon himself to save the aristocrats who are being unduly murdered at the gallows in the streets of Paris. However, all of England knows him as a fop, while his alter ego, the Scarlet Pimpernel, runs about the continent saving countless peoples' lives, wherein lies the ruse. His wife, Lady Marguerite, is French, and because of her nationality, finds herself in desperate straits as she is blackmailed to help the French revolutionary government's agent, Paul Chauvelin, in his quest to catch the Scarlet Pimpernel. I'm making you read the rest to find out the ending.

A few years ago, some of my students bought me two goldfish, who they named Sir Percy and Lady Marguerite. Unfortunately, they died when Deg tried to grow a lily pad in their tank. We laid them to rest in the creek outside our house.

About a week and a half ago, I was walking through the grocery store when I saw this fishy. Deg and I have always had the intention of replacing the Blakeneys, and this red Betta seemed to be calling my name. Bettas are feisty fish who have to be kept alone or they will kill the other fish they are with. They are especially violent with other Bettas and will even attack their own reflection in an attempt to fight to the death. Knowing this, and being prompted by his ruddy complexion, Chauvelin he became. He now haunts our kitchen table.