The Financier · Chapter
Butler's Investigation explained
Edward Butler grows increasingly suspicious of his daughter Aileen's secret relationship with Frank Cowperwood.
What happens
Edward Butler grows increasingly suspicious of his daughter Aileen's secret relationship with Frank Cowperwood. After considering various options, he decides to hire a private detective agency in New York to investigate. He visits Pinkerton's agency, where he speaks with Mr. Martinson, and reluctantly provides details about Cowperwood and his daughter, hoping to confirm his suspicions and save Aileen from social ruin.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Justification
Butler deceives his family by secretly arranging Aileen's European trip and later by using a false name at the detective agency, justifying his actions as necessary to protect his daughter.
Love and Betrayal
Butler's love for Aileen conflicts with his sense of betrayal by Cowperwood, whom he sees as threatening his daughter's honor and his family's social standing.
Class and Social Mobility
The Mollenhauers' invitation to Europe reflects the social circles of the wealthy elite; Butler's concern about scandal underscores the importance of reputation in maintaining social position.
Characters to notice
- Edward Malia Butler
Grows restive and puzzled about Aileen's behavior; considers various plans to separate her from Cowperwood; ultimately visits Pinkerton's detective agency in New York to hire an investigator.
- Aileen Butler
Avoids her father, still secretly in touch with Cowperwood; declines an invitation to travel to Europe with the Mollenhauers, which her father had secretly arranged.
- Frank Algernon Cowperwood
The man Butler suspects of having an affair with Aileen; his bank has recently failed and he is involved in a city embezzlement case.
- Norah
Aileen's sister; excited about the opportunity to travel to Europe with the Mollenhauers.
- Callum Butler
Jokingly offers to accompany the women to Europe as a guide.
- Mrs. Butler
Unaware of her husband's role in arranging the European trip; relays the invitation from Mrs. Mollenhauer to her daughters.
- Henry A. Mollenhauer
Agrees to help Butler by having his wife invite Aileen and Norah to Europe.
- Mr. Martinson
The Pinkerton agent who interviews Butler; assures him of confidentiality and agrees to investigate Cowperwood and Aileen.
Key passages
“As time went on Butler grew more and more puzzled and restive as to his duty in regard to his daughter. He was sure by her furtive manner and her apparent desire to avoid him, that she was still in touch with Cowperwood in some way, and that this would bring about a social disaster of some kind.”
Butler became increasingly anxious about his responsibility toward Aileen, convinced by her secretive behavior that she was still communicating with Cowperwood and that this would lead to a public scandal.
Butler's internal conflict and fear of social ruin drive his actions throughout the chapter.
“I want to know whether a certain man where I live is goin' with a certain woman, and where. You could find that out aisy enough, I belave—couldn't you?”
Butler asks the detective to determine if a specific man in Philadelphia is meeting with a specific woman, expressing confidence that it would be easy to discover.
Butler's direct but guarded request reveals his desperation and his hope for a quick resolution.
