# II explained — The Lerouge Case

> Chapter companion for The Lerouge Case by Émile Gaboriau.

## What happens

M. Daburon and old Tabaret collaborate on the investigation of Widow Lerouge's murder. Tabaret meticulously examines the crime scene, deducing the murderer's actions: a well-dressed young man who wore lavender kid gloves, used a sharpened foil, and sought documents which he burned. He predicted the murderer threw a bundle into the Seine, which is later found, confirming his theories. The chapter also reveals Tabaret's personal history and his eccentric dedication to police work.

## Themes in this chapter

### Obsession and Detection

Tabaret's meticulous and almost obsessive examination of the crime scene, combined with his deductive reasoning, drives the investigation forward.

### Justice and Injustice

The magistrate and police work to uncover the truth and bring the murderer to justice, while Tabaret's personal history hints at past injustices.

## Character check-ins

### M. Tabaret

Old Tabaret conducts a detailed examination of the crime scene, deducing the murderer's methods and motives. He also shares his personal history with M. Daburon.

### M. Daburon

The investigating magistrate who oversees the investigation, expresses confidence in Tabaret's deductions, and plans to write to the minister of marine to trace the victim's family.

### Gevrol

The chief of detective police who initially suspects a man with rings in his ears, but is later skeptical of Tabaret's theories.

### Lecoq

A police agent who fetches Tabaret and assists him during the investigation.

### Widow Lerouge

The murder victim; her body is examined, and evidence from her fingernails reveals the murderer wore kid gloves.

## Key lines

> The greatest obstacle to success in the unravelling of mysterious crimes is in mistaking the motive.

The main difficulty in solving a crime is misunderstanding why it was committed.

_Reflects the investigative philosophy of the magistrate._

> I will confide my history to you, M. Daburon. When I was five and twenty years of age, I was earning two thousand francs a year, as a clerk at the Monte de Piete.

Tabaret offers to tell his life story, starting with his job at a pawn shop when he was 25.

_Reveals Tabaret's humble beginnings and his willingness to share personal details._

> He did not carry it a hundred leagues... his first care was to throw this telltale bundle into the water.

The murderer likely threw the incriminating bundle into the Seine nearby.

_Tabaret's prediction about the bundle, which is later confirmed._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lerouge_case_se/chapters/ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lerouge_case_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lerouge_case_se/chapters