# Cherchez La Femme explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/cherchez-la-femme
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters