# VII explained — The Revolt of the Angels

> Chapter companion for The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France.

## What happens

The mysterious disappearances of books from the d'Esparvieu library continue despite new locks and security measures. Monsieur René d'Esparvieu, reluctant to create a scandal, consults his friend Monsieur des Aubels, who suspects the librarian Sariette and hires a detective named Mignon. Mignon's intense surveillance disrupts the household, but he finds nothing. A trap using talc reveals only faint bare footprints of extraordinary beauty, which Gaétan identifies as divine or antique. Maurice hears a voice sighing about knowledge and thought.

## Themes in this chapter

### Knowledge and Enlightenment

The mysterious voice lamenting 'Knowledge, whither dost thou lead me? Thought, whither dost thou lure me?' underscores the peril and allure of intellectual pursuit.

### Human Nature and Folly

The household's overreaction to the book thefts—installing elaborate locks, hiring a detective, and disrupting daily life—highlights human folly and irrationality.

## Character check-ins

### Monsieur Julien Sariette

The librarian who reports the ongoing book thefts and is suspected by Monsieur des Aubels.

### René d'Esparvieu

The master of the house, who refuses to make a scandal and agrees to install new locks and hire a detective.

### Gaétan d'Esparvieu

René's brother, who identifies the footprint as that of a god or ancient athlete.

### Maurice d'Esparvieu

Young Maurice, who threatens to leave home due to the surveillance and later hears a mysterious voice in the summerhouse.

### Monsieur Mignon

The detective hired to watch the house, whose intense surveillance disrupts the household.

### Abbé Patouille

An intimate of the household who makes himself scarce due to the surveillance.

## Key lines

> Thought, whither dost thou lead me?

Where does thinking take me?

_The mysterious voice heard by Maurice in the summerhouse, expressing doubt about the value of intellectual inquiry._

> It is the foot of a god or of an athlete of antiquity.

This footprint belongs to a divine being or an ancient athlete.

_Gaétan's poetic interpretation of the bare footprint found in the library._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/vii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters