# II explained — The Nature of a Crime > Chapter companion for The Nature of a Crime by Joseph Conrad. ## What happens The narrator reflects on his obsessive habits and the impending exposure of his embezzlement. He details his management of the Burden estates, his feelings towards Edward Burden and his fiancée Miss Averies, and his anticipation of the April 5 scrutiny of his accounts. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Trust The narrator's embezzlement and his role as a trusted administrator highlight the theme of deception and the betrayal of trust. ### Morality and Debauchery The narrator's moral conflict over his actions and his indulgence in risky behavior reflect this theme. ### Gambling and Risk The narrator's embezzlement is described as a 'gamble' with the Burden accounts, and he anticipates the 'crumbling' of lives when the truth emerges. ## Character check-ins ### Unknown Narrator Reveals his embezzlement of Burden funds, his obsessive counting habits, and his complex feelings towards Edward and Miss Averies. ### Edward Burden Visits the narrator's office to introduce his fiancée and request a cheque for a motorcar; described as pompous and trusting. ### Miss Averies Edward's fiancée, described as fair and slight with dilating eyes; the narrator feels regret for wronging her. ### Zola Mentioned as an example of half-mad authors who add numbers on cab backs, a habit the narrator shares. ### Johnson Referenced for his habit of touching street-posts in a certain order to escape miserable thoughts. ## Key lines > I noticed, when I looked at the enumeration of these pages tonight, I began to write upon the thirteenth sheet⁠—and that gives me a vague dissatisfaction. I noticed I started writing on the thirteenth page, which makes me uneasy. _The narrator's superstition about the number thirteen._ > I read, by the by, a paragraph in a newspaper: it dealt with half-mad authors. One of these, the writer said, was Zola; he was stated to be half mad because he added together the numbers on the backs of cabs passing him in the street. I read a newspaper article about half-mad authors, mentioning Zola's habit of adding cab numbers. _The narrator identifies with Zola's obsessive counting._ > Well, rightly speaking, those houses have been bought with Burden money, and all my pictures, all my prints, all my books, my furniture, my reputation as a connoisseur, my governorship of the two charities⁠—all the me that people envy⁠—have been bought with the Burden money. All my possessions and reputation have been funded by the Burden estate's money. _The narrator confesses the extent of his embezzlement._ > On that day the solicitors of his future wife will make their scrutiny of my accounts. It is regarded, you understand, as a mere formality. On that day, the solicitors will examine my accounts, but they think it's just a formality. _The impending audit that will expose the narrator's fraud._ > It was odd how I felt towards her . You know his pompous, high forehead, the shine all over him, the grave, weighty manner. I had strange feelings towards her. You know how pompous and shiny Edward is. _The narrator's contrasting feelings towards Edward and Miss Averies._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/chapters/ii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_nature_of_a_crime_se/chapters