why did Marguerite not tell percy how she was implicated to the death of the St Cyr family

from his family and sent to Robespierre, the leader of the French government. His family, however, is rescued by their cart driver, who is none other than the Scarlet Pimpernel, disguised as an old hag. Safely outside Paris, the de Tournay family is met by the Pimpernel's men and spirited away to England. The Pimpernel's newest exploit enrages Robespierre, who offers the count his life if he helps capture the Pimpernel. Refused by the aristocrat, Robespierre then assigns the task to his ambassador to Britain, Chauvelin, and threatens him with the guillotine if he fails. Back in England, the Pimpernel removes his disguise and becomes Sir Percy Blakeney, an English gentleman who appears to be nothing more than a "fop." Percy warns his friends that they must keep their band small and secret or its effectiveness will be lost. Percy's beautiful French wife, Marguerite, is unaware of the Pimpernel's true identity. Through his spies, Chauvelin discovers a note which implicates Marguerite's brother, Armand St. Just, in the Pimpernel's actions. Upon his arrival in England, Chauvelin offers Marguerite her brother's life if she assists in the capture of the Pimpernel. Meanwhile, Percy and Armand meet to discuss their future actions, and Armand questions Percy about his estrangement from his wife. Percy tells Armand that Marguerite testified against the Marquis de St. Cyr, the first aristocrat sent to the guillotine, and though he still loves her, he cannot forgive her this action. At the Granville Ball that night, Marguerite feigns illness to acquire a note from Sir Andrew ffoulkes, one of Percy's associates, which states that the Pimpernel will be in the library at midnight. With the note in his possession, Chauvelin goes to the library, only to find the sleeping Percy. Disgusted, Chauvelin then sits down and falls asleep himself, only to awaken and find a note from the Pimpernel. Though he suspects the still-sleeping Percy, Chauvelin cannot believe that such a foppish man is the hero he seeks. Later on, Marguerite tells Percy of her betrayal of the Pimpernel to Chauvelin. When Percy questions her on her denouncement of St. Cyr, Marguerite tells him that St. Cyr had unjustly sent her to prison because his son had fallen in love with her, and that she would have died there if she had not been freed by the Revolution. While Percy can finally understand his wife's actions and the two become close once more, he still does not disclose to her his secret identity. That evening, Marguerite looks up at a family portrait, only to realize that the mark of the Pimpernel is part of the family crest.