# VII explained — File No. 113

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

## What happens

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, where the porter greets him warmly. Raoul de Lagors visits and offers advice and money, suggesting Prosper leave Paris. Prosper learns about the Fauvel family and Madeleine's preparations for a ball. After Raoul leaves, M. Verduret reveals himself and analyzes a mysterious letter and package of money sent to Prosper, deducing it came from a woman and was cut from a prayerbook. He insists on visiting M. Fauvel.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suspicion and Trust

Prosper is freed but remains under a cloud of suspicion, struggling with the distrust of society and his own father, while seeking a friend who will believe him.

### Investigation and Detection

Verduret begins his investigation, analyzing the anonymous letter and money, deducing the sender's gender and the source of the cut words.

### Secrecy and the Past

The mysterious letter and package hint at hidden knowledge and a second person involved in the robbery, suggesting secrets from the past are emerging.

## Character check-ins

### Prosper Bertomy

Released from prison after nine days, he is overwhelmed by despair and suspicion but resolves to prove his innocence. He meets with Raoul and later with Verduret.

### Raoul de Lagors

Visits Prosper after his release, offering advice and half his fortune. He suggests Prosper leave Paris and mentions the Fauvel family and Madeleine's ball preparations.

### M. Verduret

The red-whiskered man who reveals himself as Prosper's protector. He analyzes the mysterious letter and money, deducing the sender is a woman and the words were cut from a prayerbook.

### Madeleine

Mentioned by Raoul as preparing for a fancy ball at the Jandidier mansions, absorbed in her costume.

### André Fauvel

Mentioned as being distressed by the robbery and not attending to business; Prosper refuses to see him initially.

### Nina Gypsy

Thought of by Prosper as someone who would believe in his innocence; he longs to see her.

## Key lines

> Free! Justice had confessed her inability to convict him of the crime of which he was accused. Free! He could walk about, he could breathe the pure air; but every door would be closed against him.

Though released, Prosper finds that freedom brings no relief, as society still shuns him and suspicion clings to his name.

_Highlights the theme of suspicion and the social consequences of a 'not proven' verdict._

> I am innocent! God knows I am innocent!

Prosper cries out in despair, asserting his innocence to the heavens, but passersby dismiss him as mad.

_Emphasizes Prosper's isolation and the public's indifference to his plight._

> These words have all been cut from a prayerbook.

Verduret identifies the source of the anonymous letter's text as a prayerbook, deducing the sender's method.

_Key investigative detail revealing Verduret's analytical skill._

## Links

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