The Revolt of the Angels · Chapter
IV explained
Two months after the mysterious disturbances in the library, Monsieur Sariette, the Catholic archivist, becomes increasingly paranoid, blaming Freemasons and Jews for the thefts.
What happens
Two months after the mysterious disturbances in the library, Monsieur Sariette, the Catholic archivist, becomes increasingly paranoid, blaming Freemasons and Jews for the thefts. He resolves to spend a night in the library to catch the culprits, but is knocked unconscious by a flying book. His health deteriorates, and his reports are dismissed by Monsieur René d'Esparvieu and Abbé Patouille, who believe his mind is failing.
Themes in this chapter
Religion and Blind Faith
Sariette's paranoid belief in Freemason conspiracies, fueled by Abbé Patouille and Catholic newspapers, exemplifies blind faith overriding reason.
Human Nature and Folly
Sariette's irrational fear, his futile night vigil, and his physical decline highlight human folly and the self-destructive nature of paranoia.
Characters to notice
- Monsieur Julien Sariette
The librarian, terrified and paranoid, blames Freemasons for the book thefts, attempts a night vigil, and is assaulted by a book, leading to his physical and mental decline.
- Abbé Patouille
The abbé shares Sariette's suspicions about Freemasons and Jews, and later comments that Sariette's brain is failing.
- René d'Esparvieu
Monsieur René dismisses Sariette's alarming reports, suggesting the books are merely mislaid, and murmurs that Sariette is in a bad way.
- Père Guinardon
Mentioned as relating his work restoring Delacroix paintings at St. Sulpice, though Sariette does not hear him.
- Maurice d'Esparvieu
His revolver is borrowed by Sariette for the night vigil.
Key passages
“The papers he read were full of their crimes. Abbé Patouille deemed them capable of the darkest deeds, and believed them to be in league with the Jews and meditating the total overthrow of Christendom.”
The newspapers Sariette read were filled with accusations against the Freemasons, and Abbé Patouille thought they were plotting with Jews to destroy Christianity.
Highlights the anti-Masonic and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that drive Sariette's actions.
“He thought he saw something flutter on the table. Stricken to the marrow with cold and terror, but upheld by a resolve stronger than any fear, he rose, approached the table, and passed his hands over the cloth. He saw nothing; even the lights faded, but under his fingers he felt a folio wide open; he tried to close it, the book resisted, jumped up and hit the imprudent librarian three blows on the head.”
Sariette saw a fluttering shape on the table, and despite his terror, he approached and felt an open folio that resisted being closed, then struck him three times on the head, knocking him unconscious.
The supernatural assault on Sariette by a book underscores the mysterious and violent nature of the library disturbances.