“As we passed along those graveled walks it somehow became vividly impressed upon me that her marriage was being forced upon her by her parents.”
This quote reflects, through the circumstances of Muriel Leithcourt, the sad life led by numerous girls of the era, who were similarly betrothed against their will to rich and powerful men. The object, of course, was to gain wealth and social position even if the price to pay was the selling of a daughter and the sacrifice of her happiness.
“I retired to my room that night full of fevered apprehension. Had I acted rightly in not returning to that lonely spot on the brow of the hill? Had I done as a man should do in keeping the tragic secret to myself?”
This soliloquy of Gordon’s draws his character in the colors of a just and chivalrous man. After returning to his uncle house subsequent to the scene he came across in the woods, he was very worried about the righteousness of his act, and the uprightness of his behavior, and whether it wasn’t prompted by selfish drives after all.
"Recollect you are in Finland—where the Baron Oberg is all-powerful."
This warning was uttered kindly by the sister, who was in charge of Elma Heath during her imprisonment at the Castle of Kajana. Although a member of that dreary establishment, she was also a kind woman, who helped Gordon and assisted the escape of Elma as best she could. Her warning to Gordon hints at once at the immense power in the hands of Baron Oberg, and at the corruption and vileness of his character, insinuating all the while that in Finland he was unchallenged, and would attempt anything fearlessly in order to achieve his goals.
“My name is Gordon Gregg, English by birth, cosmopolitan by instinct.”
This is the way in which Gordon Gregg had introduced himself for the first time to Elma Heath. It is apparent from his words that in spite of his patent pride in his English blood and origins, he is also an open minded gentleman and a humanitarian individual, who does not let the frontiers of countries divide him from his fellow human beings all over the world. This is one of the best traits in Gordon’s character, for he holds no prejudice prompted by origin or nationality against any other individual. He is depicted as a man who maintains friendly relationships with Italians, Scottish, Russians..etc
"The offense has since been proved to have been the outcome of a political conspiracy, and the Minister of the Interior in Petersburg last week signed an order for the prisoner's transportation to the island of Saghalien."
This quote points out the dangers of political corruption and power given to the undeserving. Xavier Oberg is one such instance, for he had used his position and the advantages given him by the Czar to reach his own ends. In order to defy his enemies, he would usually attribute to them false deeds of political conspiracy, and have them convicted for crimes they had never committed.
