Short Fiction · Chapter
Cherchez La Femme explained
Reporters Robbins and Dumars revisit the unsolved mystery of Madame Tibault's missing twenty thousand dollars, entrusted to the late Mr.
What happens
Reporters Robbins and Dumars revisit the unsolved mystery of Madame Tibault's missing twenty thousand dollars, entrusted to the late Mr. Gaspard Morin. After a fruitless investigation, they attend the auction of the Little Sisters of Samaria's chapel, where Robbins suspects the gold may have been melted into a statue of the Virgin Mary. The two friends end up bidding against each other before forming a syndicate to purchase the statue.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Morin appears saintly and devout, but the mystery of the missing money suggests a hidden reality behind his pious exterior.
Crime and Consequence
The unresolved theft of Madame Tibault's legacy and the suspicion cast on Morin's memory drive the plot.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Narrates the story of Robbins, Dumars, and the missing money.
- Willie Robbins
Reporter for the Picayune; co-investigator of the Morin case; bids on the statue at auction.
- David Mignot
Dumars, reporter for L'Abeille; Creole; co-investigator; bids against Robbins at auction before pooling funds.
- Mrs. Conant
Madame Tibault, the café owner who lost her twenty thousand dollars and discusses the case with the reporters.
Key passages
“Cherchez la femme”
Look for the woman
Dumars' repeated mantra suggesting that a woman is at the heart of the mystery.
“All roads lead to the eternal feminine. We will find the woman.”
Every clue points to a woman; we will track her down.
Robbins echoes Dumars' belief that a woman is key to solving the case.
“Thass so, boys... Thass ver' wicked man, M'sieur Morin. Everybody shall be cert' he steal those money I plaze in his hand for keep safe.”
That's right, boys. That's a very wicked man, Mr. Morin. Everyone is certain he stole the money I placed in his hands for safekeeping.
Madame Tibault expresses her conviction that Morin stole her legacy.