813 · Chapter
Prince Sernine at Work explained
Prince Sernine orchestrates his schemes from his Paris flat, receiving reports from his agents about Dolores Kesselbach's retreat and Geneviève Ernemont's school.
What happens
Prince Sernine orchestrates his schemes from his Paris flat, receiving reports from his agents about Dolores Kesselbach's retreat and Geneviève Ernemont's school. He stages the suicide of Gérard Baupré, replacing his body with that of Pierre Leduc, and then offers Baupré a new life in exchange for his identity and loyalty.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Disguise
Prince Sernine operates under multiple aliases and orchestrates the complete replacement of Gérard Baupré's identity with that of the deceased Pierre Leduc.
Deception and Truth
Sernine deceives the authorities by staging a fake suicide, using forged documents and a substituted corpse to conceal his plans.
Power and Ambition
Sernine asserts his mastery over others, claiming boundless will and power, and recruits Gérard as a pawn in his grand scheme.
Madness and Duality
Gérard's suicidal despair contrasts with Sernine's exuberant control, and the chapter explores the duality of life and death, identity and oblivion.
Characters to notice
- Arsène Lupin
Operating under the alias Prince Sernine, he directs his agents and orchestrates the substitution of Pierre Leduc's body for Gérard Baupré's suicide.
- Dolores Kesselbach
Reported to be staying at the Retreat for Gentlewomen in Garches, weak and grieving, accompanied by her companion Gertrude and maid Suzanne.
- Geneviève Ernemont
Lives across from Dolores, runs a free school for backward children, and has become acquainted with Dolores, walking together in the Parc de Villeneuve.
- Jean Doudeville
One of the Doudeville brothers, acting as an inspector under M. Lenormand while reporting to Prince Sernine.
- Jacques Doudeville
The other Doudeville brother, similarly placed as an inspector and informant for Prince Sernine.
- Pierre Leduc
His corpse is used by Sernine to replace Gérard Baupré's body in the staged suicide.
- Gérard
A young poet who attempts suicide; Sernine saves him and offers him a new identity and purpose.
- Octave
One of Sernine's accomplices, assists in hoisting and positioning Pierre Leduc's body.
Key passages
“A ground-floor flat, at the corner of the Boulevard Haussmann and the Rue de Courcelles . Here lived Prince Sernine: Prince Sernine, one of the most brilliant members of the Russian colony in Paris, whose name was constantly recurring in the вАЬArrivals and DeparturesвАЭ column in the newspapers.”
Prince Sernine resides in a fashionable Parisian flat and is a prominent figure in the Russian expatriate community, frequently mentioned in social columns.
Establishes Sernine's public persona and setting.
“I am more than a prince, more than a king, more than an emperor.вБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ вАЬWho are you?вБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Who are you?вАЭ stammered Baupr√©. вАЬThe MasterвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ he who will and who canвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ he who acts.”
Sernine declares himself above all earthly titles, positioning himself as an absolute master of will and action.
Highlights Sernine's megalomania and persuasive power over Gérard.
