# XL explained — Germinie Lacerteux

> Chapter companion for Germinie Lacerteux by Edmond de Goncourt.

## What happens

Germinie refuses Jupillon's request for money, confessing she stole twenty francs from Mademoiselle and pawned her belongings. She later visits Jupillon's apartment and finds his cousin there, who rudely turns her away, confirming her fears of betrayal.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Obsession

Germinie's desperate love for Jupillon drives her to theft and humiliation.

### Hypocrisy and Secrecy

Germinie hides her theft from Mademoiselle while Jupillon's cousin reveals his duplicity.

## Character check-ins

### Germinie Lacerteux

Refuses Jupillon's request for money, confesses theft, and is humiliated by Jupillon's cousin.

### Madame Jupillon

Referred to as Jupillon; Germinie's lover who pressures her for money.

### Mademoiselle de Varandeuil

Germinie stole twenty francs from her box.

### Cousin

Jupillon's cousin who is at home in his apartment and turns Germinie away.

## Key lines

> No⁠—not this time, no,” said Germinie, rising from the foot of Jupillon’s bed where she was sitting. “There’s no way. Why, you know perfectly well that I haven’t a sou⁠—anything you can call a sou!

Germinie refuses Jupillon's request for money, insisting she is completely broke.

_Germinie's financial desperation is revealed._

> I took them out of mademoiselle’s box! I’ve put them back. But that’s done with. I don’t want any more of that kind of thing.

Germinie confesses she stole twenty francs from Mademoiselle's box but returned them, vowing never to steal again.

_Germinie admits to theft and expresses remorse._

> When the hens have teeth,” said the girl, seriously, and shut the door in her face.

Jupillon's cousin rudely tells Germinie that Jupillon will never return and slams the door.

_Germinie is humiliated and rejected by Jupillon's cousin._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xl
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters