John Francis de Winter

Role: avenger of his mother · First appears: Chapter 32

Life events

The pretended monk reveals that he is John Francis de Winter.(Chapter32)
- “I am John Francis de Winter.”
John Francis de Winter reveals that Anne de Bueil was his mother.(Chapter32)
- With: Anne de Bueil
- “Was my mother!”
John Francis de Winter stabs the executioner and refuses him absolution.(Chapter32)
- With: the executioner
- “‘No pity for him who had no pity! Die, impenitent, die in despair, die and be damned!’ And drawing a poniard from beneath his robe he thrust it into the breast of the wounded man, saying, ‘Here is my absolution!’”
John Francis de Winter abandons his disguise, obtains a horse, and continues his journey to Paris.(Chapter32 · 📍 Paris)
- “threw off his monkish garb, took from his valise the complete habiliment of a cavalier, clothed himself in it, went on foot to the first post, secured there a horse and continued with a loose rein his journey to Paris.”

parent: Anne de Bueil (John Francis de Winter identifies Anne de Bueil as his mother.) “‘Anne de Bueil,’ murmured the wounded man. ‘Anne de Bueil!’ cried the monk, standing up and lifting his hands to Heaven. ‘Anne de Bueil! You said Anne de Bueil, did you not?’ ‘Yes, yes, that was her name; and now absolve me, for I am dying.’ ‘I, absolve you!’ cried the priest, with a laugh which made the dying man’s hair stand on end; ‘I, absolve you? I am not a priest.’ ‘You are not a priest!’ cried the executioner. ‘What, then, are you?’ ‘I am about to tell you, wretched man.’ ‘Oh, mon Dieu!’ ‘I am John Francis de Winter.’ ‘I do not know you,’ said the executioner. ‘Wait, wait; you are going to know me. I am John Francis de Winter,’ he repeated, ‘and that woman——’ ‘Well, that woman?’ ‘Was my mother!’”

Extracted from the original text of Twenty Years After. Made with Rho MD.