Fantômas · Chapter
XV: The Mad Woman’s Plot explained
Dr.
What happens
Dr. Biron's private asylum in Passy is thriving. Two doctors, Perret and Sembadel, discuss their work and a patient, Mme. Rambert (No. 25), who has apparently recovered. During a visit by Professor Swelding, Mme. Rambert has a violent crisis, screaming 'Fantômas!' at the professor. Later, she convinces her attendant Berthe that she is sane and persecuted, and bribes her to help her escape, offering a diamond ring and a fortune.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Deception
Mme. Rambert's claim of being sane and persecuted, and her identification of Professor Swelding as Fantômas, highlight themes of mistaken or hidden identity and deception.
Fear and Terror
Mme. Rambert's panic attack and her terror of Fantômas, as well as her fear of being returned to her husband, underscore the theme of fear.
Obsession and Vengeance
Mme. Rambert's obsessive desire to escape and her plot to bribe Berthe suggest a vengeful determination against those she believes have wronged her.
Characters to notice
- Inspector Juve
Not present in this chapter.
- Fantômas
Mme. Rambert screams 'Fantômas!' at Professor Swelding, identifying him as the criminal.
- Etienne Rambert
Husband of Mme. Rambert; mentioned as the person to whom Perret wrote about her recovery.
- Mme. Rambert
Patient No. 25 in the asylum; claims to be sane and persecuted, and plots to escape with the help of her attendant.
- Dr. Biron
Director of the asylum; hosts Professor Swelding and is distressed by Mme. Rambert's crisis.
- Professor Swelding
Danish professor visiting the asylum; identified by Mme. Rambert as Fantômas.
Key passages
“Fantômas! she cried: 'Fantômas! There—I know him! Oh, help!'”
Mme. Rambert screams that Professor Swelding is Fantômas, causing a scene.
This outburst reveals her identification of the professor with the criminal Fantômas.
“I must go, but I must not go merely to return to my husband! I must be free, free to go to those who will help me to escape from the horrible trap in which I have spent the last few years of my life!”
Mme. Rambert insists she must escape the asylum not to return to her husband but to seek help from others.
She expresses her desire for freedom and her belief that she is trapped.
“Take that as proof of my sincerity. If anybody asks me about it I will say that I have lost it. And from now, Berthe, begin to prepare a way for me to escape! The very night that I am free I swear you shall be a rich woman!”
Mme. Rambert gives Berthe a diamond ring as a bribe and promises her wealth if she helps her escape.
She uses her wealth to manipulate Berthe into aiding her escape.