813 · Chapter
V: M. Lenormand at Work explained
On the 31st of May, the newspapers recall Lupin's announced escape of Jérôme.
What happens
On the 31st of May, the newspapers recall Lupin's announced escape of Jérôme. Despite police precautions, the escape does not happen on Friday; Lupin sends a note apologizing and postponing it. The next day, Jérôme disappears. Prime Minister Valenglay summons M. Lenormand, who reveals he has been preparing for the struggle. Lenormand explains his three trump cards: he knows Lupin's alias (Prince Dash) but Lupin is abroad; he has discovered Pierre Leduc, guarded by two of his own detectives (the Doudeville brothers); and he has intercepted a letter from Steinweg, who is expected in Paris. Lenormand plans to use Pierre Leduc as bait to catch both the murderer and Lupin. Valenglay grants him free rein. Later that night, Lenormand goes to the villa in Saint-Cloud where Pierre Leduc is kept.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Truth
Lenormand deceives both the public and his superiors by feigning illness while secretly preparing his campaign; Lupin's escape is a masterful deception involving forged notices and impersonation.
Power and Ambition
Lenormand's strategic maneuvering to retain control of the investigation and his ambition to outwit Lupin and solve the Kesselbach case drive the chapter.
Crime and Justice
The chapter focuses on the police investigation into the Palace Hotel murders and Lupin's escape, highlighting the struggle between criminal ingenuity and law enforcement.
Characters to notice
- M. Lenormand
Chief of the detective-service; meets with Prime Minister Valenglay and reveals his strategy; goes to Saint-Cloud to oversee the surveillance of Pierre Leduc.
- Valenglay
Prime minister; summons Lenormand, initially skeptical but ultimately grants him full authority to pursue the case.
- M. Weber
Deputy-chief of the detective-service; mentioned as a personal enemy of Lenormand who is handling the case in Lenormand's absence.
- Pierre Leduc
Central figure in the Kesselbach secret; discovered by Lupin and placed in a villa near Paris, guarded by the Doudeville brothers.
- Steinweg
Old acquaintance of Kesselbach; wrote a letter from Cape Town announcing his arrival in Paris on June 1st, expressing interest in the Pierre Leduc affair.
- Jean Doudeville
One of the Doudeville brothers; works as a detective for Lenormand while posing as Lupin's accomplice, guarding Pierre Leduc.
- Jacques Doudeville
The other Doudeville brother; also a detective for Lenormand, guarding Pierre Leduc.
- Sergeant Gourel
Lenormand's subordinate; meets Lenormand at the villa in Saint-Cloud and reports on the situation.
Key passages
“Lupin, for that matter, has connections at the Palais that balk all our calculations. He has agents in your ministry. He has agents at the Prefecture of Police. He has agents around me. It is a formidable organization, a detective-service a thousand times more clever, more daring, more varied and more supple than that under my own orders.”
Lupin's network is so extensive that it surpasses the official police force in skill and reach, with informants planted throughout the justice system and even within Lenormand's own team.
Lenormand explains to Valenglay the depth of Lupin's infiltration, justifying his cautious approach.
“I have prepared for the struggle.”
Lenormand has been strategically planning his countermove against Lupin rather than acting impulsively.
Lenormand defends his apparent inaction to Valenglay, revealing his deliberate strategy.
“I hold three trump-cards in my hand.”
Lenormand has three key advantages that he believes will lead to victory.
Lenormand outlines his plan to Valenglay, listing his three pieces of leverage.
“Pierre Leduc is the bait which you are throwing to the enemy.”
Valenglay recognizes that Lenormand is using Pierre Leduc as a decoy to lure the criminals.
Valenglay summarizes Lenormand's strategy of using Leduc to catch the murderer and Lupin.
“I shall be the victor… or I shall be dead.”
Lenormand stakes everything on his plan, accepting that the outcome will be either success or death.
Lenormand's dramatic declaration to Valenglay underscores the high stakes of his campaign.
