# XVI: Edouard Warns George explained — The Counterfeiters > Chapter companion for The Counterfeiters by André Gide. ## What happens Edouard visits the pension to speak with La Pérouse and then warns George about his involvement in counterfeiting. He uses a passage from his novel to indirectly address George's thefts, but the boy is more flattered than chastened. Edouard then directly warns George that the judge knows about the false coins and that he and his friends must stop or face arrest. George relays the warning to Ghéridanisol and Phiphi, who dispose of the coins, and Ghéridanisol informs Strouvilhou. ## Themes in this chapter ### Counterfeiting and Appearance The central plot of false coins and the moral decay they represent; Edouard's warning to George about the consequences of his actions. ### Morality and Corruption Edouard's attempt to steer George away from theft and counterfeiting, and the boys' casual attitude toward their crimes. ### Art and the Novel Edouard uses his own novel as a tool to warn George, blurring the line between fiction and reality; he reflects on rewriting the chapter. ## Character check-ins ### Edouard Visits the pension, speaks with La Pérouse, and warns George about his thefts and counterfeiting. ### George Molinier Reads Edouard's novel passage, is flattered, then warned directly about the false coins; he informs his friends. ### Monsieur de La Pérouse Struggling as a supervisor at the pension; complains to Edouard about his insomnia and a mysterious noise in his room. ### Ghéridanisol Collects the false coins from George and Phiphi and disposes of them down the drains; warns Strouvilhou. ### Strouvilhou Warned by Ghéridanisol about the counterfeiting investigation and takes precautions. ### Phiphi One of George's friends involved in the counterfeiting; gives his coins to Ghéridanisol. ## Key lines > I had opened at the page I thought might interest him. I repeat it—this behaviour of mine now seems to me absurd. But in my novel, it is precisely by a similar reading that I thought of giving the youngest of my heroes a warning. Edouard shows George a passage from his novel as a way to indirectly warn him about his behavior, though he later questions the effectiveness of this approach. _Edouard's meta-fictional method of using his own writing to influence real-life events._ > He gave me back the notebook, and in a tone of voice that was almost playful: 'I should have liked to know what Eudolfe says when he has read the notebook.' George responds playfully to Edouard's novel passage, showing he is more intrigued than repentant. _George's reaction reveals his self-interest and lack of remorse._ > He commissioned me to warn you that he knew you were circulating false coins. ... and that if you and your pals don't stop your traffickings at once, he'll be obliged to arrest you. Edouard directly warns George that the judge is aware of the counterfeiting and will arrest them if they continue. _The direct warning shifts the tone from indirect moralizing to legal threat._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xvi-edouard-warns-george - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_counterfeiters_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters