The Mystery of Orcival · Chapter
XXII explained
Robelot is found dead in his closet, having strangled himself with a string and a pencil.
What happens
Robelot is found dead in his closet, having strangled himself with a string and a pencil. Dr. Gendron confirms his death. Lecoq is frustrated that his key witness has escaped, while Plantat seems satisfied. Lecoq searches Robelot's house and discovers a hidden cache of 19,500 francs in gold, along with a paper showing Robelot received 40,000 francs from Madame Sauvresy for poison. Lecoq tries to learn the source of Plantat's secret manuscript, but Plantat refuses to reveal it, asking Lecoq to keep his confidences. Dr. Gendron reports that Courtois is recovering.
Themes in this chapter
Guilt and Remorse
Robelot's suicide suggests an overwhelming sense of guilt or fear of exposure, though his death also prevents further confession.
Crime and Punishment
Robelot's hidden fortune and the evidence of poison payment underscore the criminal transaction, while his suicide serves as a form of self-imposed punishment.
Characters to notice
- Robelot
Found dead in his closet, having committed suicide by strangulation. His body is examined and later taken to his house.
- M. Lecoq
Annoyed that Robelot escaped justice by suicide; searches Robelot's house and discovers hidden gold and evidence of the poison payment.
- M. Plantat
Appears satisfied with Robelot's death; examines Robelot's effects and refuses to reveal the source of his secret manuscript to Lecoq.
- Dr. Gendron
Confirms Robelot's death by asphyxia; later reports that Courtois is recovering.
- M. Courtois
Reported by Dr. Gendron to be better, weeping like a child but expected to recover.
Key passages
“Robelot must have had rare presence of mind and courage to kill himself in that obscure closet, without making enough noise to arouse the attention of those in the library.”
Robelot showed remarkable composure and bravery by taking his own life in a hidden closet so quietly that no one in the library heard him.
Describes the stealth and determination of Robelot's suicide.
“This incident seemed to annoy M. Lecoq very much; just as everything was, as he said, 'running on wheels,' his principal witness, whom he had caught at the peril of his life, had escaped him.”
Lecoq was greatly irritated because, at the very moment when his investigation was proceeding smoothly, his key witness—captured at great personal risk—had slipped away by dying.
Highlights Lecoq's frustration at losing Robelot as a witness.
“M. Plantat, on the contrary, seemed tolerably well satisfied, as if the death of Robelot furthered projects which he was secretly nourishing, and fulfilled his secret hopes.”
Plantat, however, appeared quite content, as though Robelot's death advanced some hidden plans or fulfilled his private wishes.
Contrasts Plantat's reaction with Lecoq's annoyance.
“The hole was full of rouleaux of twenty-franc pieces; on counting them, M. Lecoq found that there were nineteen thousand five hundred francs.”
The cavity was packed with rolls of twenty-franc coins, totaling 19,500 francs when Lecoq counted them.
Reveals the hidden treasure Lecoq discovered.
“M. Plantat smiled sadly, and looking steadily at him, replied: 'You are very sly, Monsieur Lecoq; but I too am sly enough to keep the last key of the mystery of which you hold all the others.'”
Plantat gave a sorrowful smile and, meeting Lecoq's gaze, said that while Lecoq was clever, he himself was clever enough to retain the final secret of the case.
Shows Plantat's determination to keep his manuscript confidential.
