# King Victor explained — The Secret of Chimneys

> Chapter companion for The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie.

## What happens

Anthony Cade reveals that Mademoiselle Brun is the murderer of Prince Michael, having recognized him and shot him to avoid exposure. He explains her true identity as a former actress connected to the Herzoslovakian revolution, who had been hiding from the Comrades of the Red Hand. The Baron initially denies recognizing her but later confides in George Lomax. Anthony then produces the real Monsieur Lemoine, exposing the false Lemoine as an impostor, while Hiram Fish prevents the false Lemoine's escape.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrecy and Revelation

The chapter centers on the unmasking of Mademoiselle Brun as the murderer and the exposure of the false Lemoine, revealing hidden identities and secrets.

### Identity and Disguise

Multiple characters are revealed to be impostors: Mademoiselle Brun is a former actress in disguise, and the false Lemoine is unmasked, while the real Lemoine appears.

### Political Intrigue and Diplomacy

The murder is tied to the Comrades of the Red Hand and Herzoslovakian politics, with the Baron's discretion and George Lomax's diplomatic concerns highlighted.

## Character check-ins

### Anthony Cade

Reveals the identity of the murderer and orchestrates the unmasking of the false Lemoine.

### Mademoiselle Brun

Identified as the murderer of Prince Michael; her true identity as a former actress and revolutionary is exposed.

### Lord Caterham

Present during the revelations and asks for clarification about Mademoiselle Brun's identity.

### Baron Lolopretjzyl

Initially denies recognizing Mademoiselle Brun but later privately confirms her identity to George Lomax.

### George Lomax

Confused by the revelations; is taken aside by the Baron for a private explanation.

### M. Lemoine

The false Lemoine is exposed as an impostor; attempts to escape but is prevented by Hiram Fish.

### Mr. Hiram Fish

Revealed as a Pinkerton detective; prevents the false Lemoine's escape by covering him with a gun.

### Herman Isaacstein

Speculates that Anthony has produced Prince Nicholas of Herzoslovakia.

## Key lines

> I suspected her from the first. There was a light in her room on the night of the murder. Afterwards, I wavered.

Anthony initially suspected Mademoiselle Brun because her room had a light on the night of the murder, but later doubted himself.

_Anthony explains his early suspicion of Mademoiselle Brun._

> She managed to put up a bluff. I think she escaped to America, and has spent a good many years lying low in deadly terror of the Comrades of the Red Hand.

She faked her death and fled to America, hiding for years out of fear of the revolutionary group.

_Anthony describes how the false Mademoiselle Brun survived and hid from the Comrades of the Red Hand._

> Allow me to present you to the real Monsieur Lemoine of the Sûreté.

Anthony introduces the genuine detective from the French police, exposing the previous Lemoine as a fraud.

_Anthony reveals the true identity of the real Lemoine._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxviii-king-victor
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters