# III explained — File No. 113

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

## What happens

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, who he believes is in love with Madeleine. Fanferlot keeps his suspicions to himself, noting a fresh scratch on the safe that he interprets as evidence of a hasty, clandestine opening. Meanwhile, the commissary questions Prosper and M. Fauvel, and the investigation proceeds. Later, Fanferlot visits Nina Gypsy, Prosper's mistress, and convinces her to flee to the Archangel Hotel to avoid incriminating Prosper. He arranges her departure and follows her to confirm she goes there.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Fanferlot suspects that M. Fauvel is deceiving everyone by staging the robbery, while the scratch on the safe hints at a hidden truth beneath the surface.

### Suspicion and Trust

The commissary and Fanferlot both harbor suspicions about the banker and the cashier, highlighting the breakdown of trust in the investigation.

### Investigation and Detection

Fanferlot's methodical observation of the safe and his secret surveillance of Nina Gypsy exemplify the detective work central to the chapter.

## Character check-ins

### Prosper Bertomy

The cashier accused of the robbery; pale and dejected, he maintains his innocence and confirms his orders to not keep money overnight.

### André Fauvel

The banker who reports the theft; he is agitated and accuses Prosper, but his behavior raises suspicion in Fanferlot's mind.

### Fanferlot

The detective who secretly theorizes that Fauvel staged the robbery; he notes a scratch on the safe and later orchestrates Nina Gypsy's move to the Archangel.

### Madeleine

Appears at the study door during the investigation; Fanferlot believes she is romantically involved with Prosper.

### Nina Gypsy

Prosper's mistress; Fanferlot convinces her to flee to the Archangel Hotel to avoid being used as evidence against Prosper.

## Key lines

> I understand the case now,” said he to himself. “This man loves the young lady, who is really very pretty; and, as he is quite handsome, I suppose his love is reciprocated. This love-affair vexes the banker, who, not knowing how to get rid of the importunate lover by fair means, has to resort to foul, and plans this imaginary robbery, which is very ingenious.

Fanferlot theorizes that the banker staged the robbery to get rid of Prosper, who is in love with Madeleine.

_Fanferlot's initial deduction about the motive behind the crime._

> This scratch, undeniably fresh, had for him a signification that escaped the others. He said to himself, “This confirms my suspicions. If the cashier had stolen millions, there was no occasion for his being in a hurry; whereas the banker, creeping down in the dead of night with catlike footsteps, for fear of awakening the boy in the anteroom, in order to rifle his own money-safe, had every reason to tremble, to hurry, to hastily withdraw the key, which, slipping along the lock, scratched off the varnish.”

Fanferlot interprets the fresh scratch on the safe as evidence that the banker, not the cashier, opened it hastily in secret.

_Fanferlot's key observation that deepens his suspicion of M. Fauvel._

> Then I must fly, monsieur, at once. Who knows that the police are not already warned, and may appear at any moment?” “Oh,” said Fanferlot with easy assurance, “you have plenty of time; the police are not so very prompt.”

Nina Gypsy panics and wants to flee immediately, but Fanferlot reassures her that the police are not yet on their way.

_Fanferlot manipulates Nina into moving to the Archangel Hotel._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters/iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/file_no_113_se/chapters