But I doubt very much that Sheba's comic oddity will actually earn her more lenience from the court. In all likelihood, she'll receive exactly the same punishment as a man. The guardians of gender equality won't stand for anything else. In the end, I suspect, being female will do nothing for Sheba except deny her the grandeur of genuine villainy.
In this passage, the author expresses skepticism that Sheba's comic and unusual behavior will lead to a more lenient treatment by the court. Instead, she is likely to face the same punishment as a man would under the law, reflecting the rigid stance of gender equality advocates who refuse to treat women differently in legal matters.
The author suggests that, ultimately, Sheba's gender may work against her, stripping away any possibility of being seen as a true villain. Being female is portrayed as a factor that denies her the opportunity for genuine villainy or complexity in how her actions are perceived.
