The Counterfeiters · Chapter
XIII: Edouard’s Journal: Douviers’ Profitendieu explained
Edouard records his creative exaltation while writing The Counterfeiters, describing a new fluid approach to the novel.
What happens
Edouard records his creative exaltation while writing The Counterfeiters, describing a new fluid approach to the novel. He receives visits from Douviers, who is reconciled to Laura’s return and her pregnancy, and from Profitendieu, who speaks of Bernard’s brilliance and his wife’s departure, and also warns about George Molinier’s involvement in a counterfeiting ring. Edouard reflects on inconsistency in character, reads his work to Olivier, and notes Profitendieu’s shift from father to judge.
Themes in this chapter
Art and the Novel
Edouard describes his new approach to writing The Counterfeiters, rejecting predetermined plots and embracing spontaneity, and reads his work to Olivier, incorporating his feedback.
Counterfeiting and Appearance
Profitendieu discusses counterfeit coins in circulation and George Molinier’s involvement; Edouard recalls the glass piece Bernard showed, linking to the novel’s title.
Family and Paternity
Douviers resolves to love Laura’s child as his own; Profitendieu expresses his love for Bernard despite his rebellion and his wife’s departure, revealing complex paternal bonds.
Morality and Corruption
Profitendieu’s investigation into counterfeiting and George’s involvement in a scandal touches on youth corruption and the moral compromises of justice.
Characters to notice
- Edouard
Narrates his journal; experiences creative euphoria while writing The Counterfeiters, receives visits from Douviers and Profitendieu, and reads his work to Olivier.
- Felix Douviers
Visits Edouard; is consoled by Edouard’s tears, resolves to love Laura’s child as his own, and does not ask the seducer’s name.
- Monsieur Profitendieu
Visits Edouard; speaks of Bernard’s brilliance, his wife’s departure, and his love for Bernard; also warns about George Molinier’s involvement in counterfeiting.
- Olivier Molinier
Asks Edouard about his work; Edouard reads him the new pages and Olivier offers judicious remarks; he is anxious about the review and his story written for Passavant.
- George Molinier
Mentioned by Profitendieu as being mixed up in a scandal and involved in circulating counterfeit coins.
- Bernard Profitendieu
Mentioned by Profitendieu; passed his written examination brilliantly, wrote a remarkable French essay, and is proud and easily offended.
- Robert de Passavant
Mentioned; Edouard brought back Olivier’s things from Passavant’s, and Passavant’s new arrangements will necessitate recasting the first number of the review.
- Laura Douviers
Mentioned; Douviers’ jealousy diminishes when he no longer feels her eyes upon him, and she has returned to him.
Key passages
“The books which I have hitherto written seem to me like the ornamental pools in public gardens—their contours are defined—perfect perhaps, but the water they contain is captive and lifeless. I wish it now to run freely, according to its bent, sometimes swift, sometimes slow; I choose not to foresee its windings.”
Edouard feels his earlier novels were too rigid and artificial; he now wants his writing to flow naturally and unpredictably, like a stream.
Reflects Edouard’s evolving theory of the novel, rejecting premeditated structure for organic development.
“I am very little susceptible to pity; and should like not to be so at all. … I consider that one ought to content oneself with showing it and carefully refrain from feeling it.”
Edouard quotes La Rochefoucauld to express a desire to avoid genuine pity, though he finds himself moved to tears by Douviers.
Highlights Edouard’s self-awareness and the tension between intellectual detachment and emotional response.
“The more fundamentally generous an individual is, and the more fertile in possibilities, the more liable he is to change, and the less willing to allow his future to be decided by his past.”
Edouard argues that truly generous and creative people are naturally inconsistent, resisting the constraint of a fixed character.
Key to Edouard’s philosophy of character in the novel, opposing the classical ideal of consistency.
“I have never ceased to love him … like a son. Yes, I know that you know. … You can tell him too … that his mother left me … yes, for good, this summer; and that if he … would come back, I. …”
Profitendieu confesses his enduring love for Bernard and reveals that his wife has left him, hoping Bernard might return.
Shows Profitendieu’s vulnerability and the emotional cost of Bernard’s rebellion.
