Colonel Ducroix Character Analysis in The Man Who Was Thursday

Colonel Ducroix is a French soldier and member of the prestigious Legion of Honour who serves as one of the Marquis’s “seconds” (official attendants) during his trip to France. He officiates the duel between the Marquis and Gabriel Syme, and then he helps the Marquis, Syme, Dr. Bull, and the Professor escape the Secretary’s army by enlisting the help of the peasant, the innkeeper, and Dr. Renard. Like these three men, the Colonel is unfailingly honest and principled—to the point that he joins the Secretary’s army after the Secretary convinces him that the detectives are really criminals on the run.

Colonel Ducroix Character Timeline in The Man Who Was Thursday

The timeline below shows where the character Colonel Ducroix appears in The Man Who Was Thursday. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Marquis for their duel in a lush, flowery meadow next to a train station. Colonel Ducroix, the Marquis’s representative, proposes that the duel should end after the first major injury. But,... (full context)

...just pull his nose, like he originally wanted, and end the duel. Dr. Bull and Ducroix agree that this is improper, but for some incomprehensible reason, Syme does it. The Marquis’s... (full context)

...a policeman named Inspector Ratcliffe. Dr. Bull explains the situation to the Marquis’s henchmen, and Ducroix concludes that they must join the fight against anarchy. (full context)

...suntanned French peasant—the kind of man Syme thinks would never be an anarchist. But Colonel Ducroix points out that, in France, peasants actually own their land, and he respectfully negotiates with... (full context)

...the anarchist army following them, but growing thinner over time. When they reach their destination, Ducroix arranges for the elderly innkeeper to bring them drinks and horses, which will allow them... (full context)

...and seek out Dr. Renard, the only honest rich man in town, who is Colonel Ducroix’s friend and owns a car. But Dr. Bull objects that the anarchists might catch them... (full context)

...runs him over. The men drive off into the night. To light their way, Colonel Ducroix holds up an antique lantern with a cross on it (which Dr. Renard yanked out... (full context)

...what’s happening. He doesn’t think Dr. Renard could possibly be working for the anarchists. Colonel Ducroix expresses his astonishment and approaches Dr. Renard to investigate. Dr. Renard raises his pistol, but... (full context)

Then, the men realize that even Colonel Ducroix has joined the crowd. He is standing at the shore with the masked Secretary. When... (full context)

Ducroix forgives the five detectives for dragging him into a pointless battle and takes them to... (full context)