The Lone Wolf · Chapter
The High Hand explained
Lanyard confronts a council of four criminals—Popinot, Wertheimer, De Morbihan, and a mysterious American calling himself Smith—who have unmasked his secret and demand he share his profits with them.
What happens
Lanyard confronts a council of four criminals—Popinot, Wertheimer, De Morbihan, and a mysterious American calling himself Smith—who have unmasked his secret and demand he share his profits with them. He refuses defiantly, mocks their pretensions, and warns them they will regret forcing his hand. Later, he wins heavily at chemin-de-fer before being summoned to a private card game where the masked council awaits, but he remains unyielding.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Social Hierarchy
Lanyard exposes the pretensions of the criminal council, mocking their attempts to pose as a grand syndicate while revealing their true lowly statuses as police informants, blackmailers, and thieves.
Loyalty and Betrayal
The Pack attempts to force Lanyard into a false alliance under threat of betrayal to the police, but he refuses, choosing to stand alone and warning them of consequences.
Characters to notice
- Michael Lanyard
Defiantly refuses to join the criminal syndicate 'The Pack,' mocking its members and threatening retaliation.
- Comte Remy de Morbihan
Acts as the council's spokesman, attempting to coerce Lanyard into cooperation, but is met with scorn.
- Popinot
A burly French rogue representing the Apaches, angered by Lanyard's insults.
- Mr. Wertheimer
An English-type criminal representing the swell-mobsmen, unmasked at Lanyard's request.
- Mr. Mysterious Smith
An American gunman who refuses to unmask and challenges Lanyard with a cold, resolute demeanor.
Key passages
“You can—all four of you—go plumb to hell!”
Lanyard tells the council to go to hell, rejecting their demands outright.
His final, defiant refusal to join the criminal syndicate.
“I have every confidence in your powers of moral suasion, monsieur.”
Lanyard sarcastically says he trusts De Morbihan's ability to persuade the others.
Mocking De Morbihan's role as intermediary.