# I See Three Men in a Mirror explained — The Room in the Dragon Volant

> Chapter companion for The Room in the Dragon Volant by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

## What happens

The narrator prepares for his secret midnight rendezvous, making financial arrangements and disguising his departure. He visits Paris, exploring Notre Dame and nearby streets, and stumbles into a curiosity shop where he sees in a mirror three men in earnest conversation: Colonel Gaillarde, the Marquis d'Harmonville, and a pale, mean-looking stranger. He avoids detection and returns to the Dragon Volant as night falls.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The narrator disguises his true intentions, fabricates a story for his host, and uses a secret door; the mirror reveals a hidden meeting that may be more than it seems.

### Isolation and Vulnerability

The narrator acts alone in his risky venture, feeling suspense and awe as the crisis approaches, and is isolated from his servant and friends.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Makes financial arrangements, visits Paris, and discovers the three men in the mirror.

### Colonel Gaillarde

Seen in the mirror at the curiosity shop, in earnest conversation with the Marquis and a third man.

### Marquis d'Harmonville

Seen in the mirror at the curiosity shop, meeting with Colonel Gaillarde and a mean-looking stranger.

### St. Clair

Given money and instructions by the narrator; left in charge of the room.

## Key lines

> It was no business of mine to inquire what brought Colonel Gaillarde and the Marquis together, in so shabby, and even dirty a place, or who the mean person, biting the feather end of his pen, might be.

The narrator decides not to question why the Colonel and the Marquis were meeting in such a grimy spot, nor the identity of the shabby man with the pen.

_The narrator deliberately avoids investigating the suspicious meeting, showing his focus on his own plans._

> I do not think there is anything of the coward in my nature; but I confess, as the crisis approached, I felt something of the suspense and awe of a soldier going into action.

Though not a coward, the narrator admits to feeling the tension and fear of a soldier before battle as his secret venture nears.

_Reveals the narrator's internal state and the high stakes he perceives._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxi-i-see-three-men-in-a-mirror
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters