# File No. 113 — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for File No. 113 by Émile Gaboriau.

- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/i.md): A newspaper report of a daring robbery at M. André Fauvel's bank is presented, noting the arrest of a clerk named P. B. on suspicion. The chapter then reveals that the newspaper account was inaccurate, and the true facts
- [The Accusation](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/ii.md): Prosper Bertomy, the head cashier of Fauvel's bank, is accused by his employer, M. Fauvel, of stealing 350,000 francs. Despite Fauvel's paternal pleas for a confession, Prosper maintains his innocence. The chapter also i
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/iii.md): The commissary of police arrives at the Fauvel bank to investigate the robbery. Fanferlot, a detective, observes the scene and develops a theory that the banker himself may have staged the theft to get rid of Prosper, wh
- [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/iv.md): M. Patrigent conducts the formal examination of Prosper Bertomy, who maintains his innocence despite the lack of evidence. The judge also questions witnesses including M. Fauvel, Lucien, Cavaillon, and bank clerks, gathe
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/v.md): Prosper Bertomy is interrogated by Judge Patrigent, who tries to break his composure after a tense interview with his father. Prosper maintains his innocence, providing a detailed account of his finances and movements. H
- [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/vi.md): Fanferlot, guided by his wife Mme. Alexandre, intercepts a letter from Nina Gypsy to Raoul de Lagors revealing a threat to expose a conversation she overheard. M. Lecoq then instructs Fanferlot to present photographic ev
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/vii.md): Prosper is released from prison after nine days, but the 'not proven' decision leaves him under suspicion. He struggles with despair and thoughts of suicide, but resolves to prove his innocence. He visits his apartment, 
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/viii.md): Prosper, accompanied by M. Verduret, visits M. Fauvel after his release from prison. M. Fauvel is consumed by melancholy and anger, and the meeting is tense. Verduret observes that Fauvel had no part in the robbery. Late
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/ix.md): M. Verduret reveals to Prosper the results of his investigation into Raoul de Lagors's false identity and the Clameran family history, while his spy Joseph Dubois reports on a heated argument between De Clameran and Raou
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/x.md): Prosper and M. Verduret spy on Raoul's house, where Prosper sees Madeleine alone with Raoul, leading to a violent emotional outburst. Verduret restrains him, arguing that appearances may be deceiving and that his innocen
- [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xi.md): Prosper, tormented by regret, sends an anonymous letter to M. Fauvel warning him about Mme. Fauvel and the Marquis de Clameran. Meanwhile, M. Verduret, having completed his investigation, returns to Paris. At a fancy bal
- [The Drama](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xii-the-drama.md): This chapter recounts the secret love affair between Gaston de Clameran and Valentine, set against the backdrop of a generations-old family feud between the Clameran and La Verberie families. Despite their families' hatr
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xiii.md): Valentine senses danger at Clameran and witnesses Gaston's perilous swim across the Rhone to reach her. They meet and passionately discuss their impossible situation: Gaston urges escape, but Valentine insists on staying
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xiv.md): Valentine endures four years of misery under her mother's cruelty, haunted by Gaston's memory and the legal consequences of his disappearance. The Countess de la Verberie's reckless spending drives the family into debt. 
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xv.md): Louis de Clameran learns from the old servant Mihonne that his brother Gaston had a son with Valentine, who later married the wealthy banker Fauvel. Louis, driven by envy and greed, sees this secret as a means to secure 
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xvi.md): The Marquis de Clameran reveals to Mme. Fauvel that he knows her secret past and her son Raoul's true parentage. He pressures her into accepting a plan to introduce Raoul as her nephew, Raoul de Lagors, to her husband. D
- [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xvii.md): Madeleine overhears the Marquis de Clameran threatening Mme. Fauvel, revealing that Raoul is her illegitimate son. Despite her hatred for Clameran, Madeleine resolves to sacrifice herself by breaking off her engagement w
- [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xviii.md): Raoul and Louis de Clameran argue over their scheme involving Mme. Fauvel and Madeleine. Louis admits he loves Madeleine, which Raoul sees as a dangerous weakness. Meanwhile, Gaston de Clameran's backstory is revealed: a
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xix.md): Raoul, following the plan set by Louis, works to regain Mme. Fauvel's trust and affection while Louis is away. He succeeds so well that even Madeleine begins to doubt her earlier suspicions. When Louis returns, he reveal
- [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xx.md): Raoul and Clameran successfully steal 350,000 francs from the Fauvel safe, with Raoul manipulating his mother, Mme. Fauvel, into revealing the key's location under the pretense of suicide. After the theft, Raoul is wrack
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xxi.md): After Raoul's departure, Mme. Fauvel is tormented by guilt and suspicion, believing Prosper complicit in the robbery. Madeleine, convinced of Prosper's innocence, secretly sends him money and urges him to leave France. T
- [XXII: The Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xxii-the-catastrophe.md): M. Verduret reveals to Prosper the full extent of his investigation into the robbery, tracing the crime back to events twenty years prior involving Gaston de Clameran. He explains his methods of gathering evidence throug
- [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xxiii.md): M. Fauvel receives an anonymous letter accusing his wife of infidelity and theft of her diamonds. Initially dismissing it, suspicion takes hold, and he discovers the diamonds are missing. He resolves to investigate secre
- [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xxiv.md): M. Fauvel confronts his wife and Raoul, believing them to be lovers, and attempts to kill them both. Mme. Fauvel confesses her guilt, but M. Verduret intervenes, revealing that Raoul is actually her son, not her lover, a
- [XXV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/xxv.md): Four days after the previous events, Prosper Bertomy and Nina Gypsy meet at M. Lecoq's office. M. Verduret reveals himself to be Lecoq, the detective, and explains that he is also Caldas, the man Nina once loved and left

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