# XXXVI: Kergariou's Wife explained — The Cloven Foot

> Chapter companion for The Cloven Foot by M. E. Braddon.

## What happens

John Treverton learns from Father le Mescam that La Chicot was originally Marie Pomellec, who married Jean Kergariou in Auray. Kergariou died in a Paris accident three years prior, confirming that John's marriage to Laura is valid. John sends a telegram to Laura with good news and prepares to travel to Paris with Sampson to obtain legal proof.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrets and Deception

John uncovers the hidden marriage of La Chicot to Kergariou, resolving the secret of his own marital validity.

### Inheritance and Legitimacy

The discovery that John's second marriage is valid secures his claim to Jasper Treverton's estate without fraud.

## Character check-ins

### John Treverton

Discovers that La Chicot was married to Jean Kergariou, confirming his second marriage is valid; sends a telegram to Laura.

### Father le Mescam

Provides detailed history of Marie Pomellec's marriage to Jean Kergariou and confirms Kergariou's death.

### Thomas Sampson

Exults in his correct guess about a previous husband; accompanies John to Paris for legal evidence.

### Laura Malcolm

Receives a telegram from John with good news.

### Marie Pomellec

Revealed as La Chicot; married Jean Kergariou in Auray before leaving for Paris.

### Kergariou

Jean Kergariou, Marie's husband, died in a wagon accident in Paris three years ago.

## Key lines

> poor creature seems to have been murdered by the man with whom she was living⁠—possibly her husband.

The priest suggests La Chicot was killed by her partner, likely her husband.

_John fears this assumption will implicate him._

> I could tell you the year of poor Kergariou's death.

Father le Mescam can provide the year Kergariou died.

_Key to confirming John's innocence._

> He was killed⁠—run over by a wagon, on the Boulevard St. Denis, in Paris.

Kergariou died in a wagon accident on a Paris boulevard.

_Links to the Morgue scene and John's memory._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se/chapters/xxxvi-kergariou-s-wife
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_cloven_foot_se/chapters