Final answer:
In 'The Scarlet Pimpernel,' there is no current king of France represented as the novel is set during the post-revolutionary period when France was a republic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The current king of France in The Scarlet Pimpernel is a fictional representation, as the book is set during the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution, where there was no actual king ruling. In terms of historical context, the book's timeline would suggest that this period is after the execution of Louis XVI and before the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. The novel itself does not specifically name a king because the story unfolds during the time when France was without a monarch and was instead under the rule of the revolutionary government.
Historically, after Louis XVI's execution in 1793, France was ruled by the National Convention followed by the Directory, and then the Consulate until Napoleon declared himself Emperor in 1804. If we refer to the actual history, during the time when The Scarlet Pimpernel was set, there 'king' of France would have been a nonexistent title as the country was a republic.