# Chapter XVII explained — File No. 113

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

## What happens

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 with Prosper and marrying the marquis to protect her aunt's family from disgrace. A struggle of self-sacrifice ensues, with Madeleine ultimately persuading Mme. Fauvel to accept her plan, though she harbors suspicions of a conspiracy between Clameran and Raoul.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

Madeleine's willingness to marry a man she despises to save her aunt's family exemplifies self-sacrifice for love and duty.

### Secrecy and the Past

The revelation of Raoul's true parentage and the threat of exposure drive the plot, highlighting the destructive power of hidden secrets.

### Deception and Appearance

Mme. Fauvel's attempts to maintain appearances and the marquis's manipulative threats underscore the theme of deception.

## Character check-ins

### Madeleine

Overhears the marquis's threats and resolves to sacrifice herself by marrying Clameran to protect her aunt's family.

### Mme. Fauvel

Torn between confessing the truth to her husband and accepting Madeleine's sacrifice; ultimately yields to her niece's plan.

### Marquis de Clameran

Threatens Mme. Fauvel with exposure of Raoul's parentage and demands Madeleine's fortune and hand in marriage.

### Prosper Bertomy

Mentioned as Madeleine's fiancé, whom she plans to break off with to marry Clameran.

### Raoul de Lagors

Revealed as Mme. Fauvel's illegitimate son; his extravagance drives the need for money.

### André Fauvel

Mentioned as the trusting husband who would be devastated by the truth.

## Key lines

> Mothers always blame themselves and everyone else for the sins of their sons. The innocent friends come in for the principal share of censure, each mother's son leading the other astray.

Mothers tend to blame themselves and others for their sons' misdeeds, often unfairly accusing innocent friends of leading them astray.

_Reflects Mme. Fauvel's denial of Raoul's faults and her tendency to shift blame._

> I will become the wife of Clameran.

Madeleine declares her intention to marry the Marquis de Clameran despite her hatred for him.

_Key moment of sacrifice, showing Madeleine's resolve to protect her aunt's family._

> To false situations there is but one safe issue: truth.

The only safe way out of a deceitful situation is to tell the truth.

_Narrator's commentary on the consequences of deception, contrasting Mme. Fauvel's avoidance with Madeleine's directness._

## Links

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