The Counterfeiters · Chapter
XII: Edouard and Then Strouvilhou Visit Passavant explained
Edouard visits the Comte de Passavant to retrieve Olivier's belongings, concealing his happiness at Olivier's choice to stay with him.
What happens
Edouard visits the Comte de Passavant to retrieve Olivier's belongings, concealing his happiness at Olivier's choice to stay with him. Passavant, masking his defeat, pretends to be relieved and hands over Olivier's things. After Edouard leaves, Strouvilhou arrives for a meeting about a literary dictatorship, revealing his misanthropic and nihilistic views.
Themes in this chapter
Counterfeiting and Appearance
Passavant feigns indifference to Olivier's departure, masking his true feelings of defeat and rage.
Morality and Corruption
Strouvilhou's misanthropic speech reveals a rejection of conventional morality and a desire for destruction.
Love and Sexuality
Lilian's letter describes a passionate but hate-filled relationship with Vincent, contrasting with Edouard's pure joy.
Characters to notice
- Edouard
Visits Passavant to collect Olivier's things, feeling joy and benevolence but struggling to maintain a cold demeanor.
- Robert de Passavant
Receives Edouard and later Strouvilhou; pretends to be glad Olivier is leaving, but is inwardly furious and scheming.
- Strouvilhou
Visits Passavant for a proposal about a literary dictatorship; expresses contempt for humanity and conventional morality.
- Olivier Molinier
Mentioned as having left Passavant to stay with Edouard; his belongings are being retrieved.
- Lady Lilian
Her letter to Passavant is read, describing her and Vincent's hate-filled relationship and adventures in Africa.
- Vincent Molinier
Mentioned in Lilian's letter; traveling with her and engaging in botanizing and shooting.
Key passages
“Love and fine weather have this power of boundlessly enlarging our contours.”
Edouard feels that love and sunshine expand his sense of self and well-being.
Reflects Edouard's euphoric state as he walks to Passavant's.
“I don’t allow myself to generalize; let us suppose that what I have said applies only to Passavant.”
The narrator suggests that Passavant's emotional control is due to a lack of depth, not strength of character.
Character analysis of Passavant's ability to mask his emotions.
“I never happen to get into a tram or a train without hoping that a good old accident will reduce the whole pack of living garbage to a pulp; yes, good Lord! and myself into the bargain.”
Strouvilhou expresses a desire for mass destruction, including himself, out of contempt for humanity.
Illustrates Strouvilhou's nihilistic and misanthropic worldview.