# Diamond Cut Diamond explained — The Slaves of Paris

> Chapter companion for The Slaves of Paris by Émile Gaboriau.

## What happens

Tantaine visits Perpignan at his secret music academy, where they engage in a tense conversation. Perpignan reveals that he was hired by the Duke de Champdoce to find a long-lost child placed in a foundling asylum, and that he has been watching Caroline Schimmel, a former servant of the Duke, suspecting she may know something about the child's birth. Tantaine probes Perpignan for details, revealing the web of secrets and manipulation surrounding the search.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Secrecy

The entire chapter revolves around hidden identities, secret dealings, and the manipulation of information, as Tantaine and Perpignan engage in a cat-and-mouse game of revelation and concealment.

### Power and Manipulation

Tantaine uses veiled threats and psychological pressure to extract information from Perpignan, demonstrating the power dynamics at play in the criminal underworld.

### Social Class and Inequality

The contrast between the wealthy Duke de Champdoce and the impoverished children in Perpignan's academy highlights the vast social inequalities of the era.

## Character check-ins

### Daddy Tantaine

Visits Perpignan at his music academy, posing as Mascarin's right-hand man, and skillfully extracts information about the Duke de Champdoce's search for a lost child.

### Perpignan

The proprietor of the music academy, a former cook, who is intimidated by Tantaine and reveals his involvement in the Duke de Champdoce's secret search for a natural son.

### Poluche

A professor at the academy who is reprimanded by Perpignan for putting students on half rations.

### Baptiste Mascarin

Referenced as the mastermind behind Tantaine; Perpignan fears him and knows Tantaine is his agent.

### Duke de Champdoce

The wealthy Duke who hired Perpignan to find his lost son, and who lives in the Rue de Varennes.

### Caroline Schimmel

A former servant of the Duke de Champdoce, now under surveillance by Perpignan due to her possible knowledge of the Duke's natural child.

## Key lines

> The ex-cook appeared before Tantaine in all his appalling vulgarity as the latter descended the stairs.

As Tantaine came down the stairs, he was met by the former cook, who looked coarse and flashy.

_Introduces Perpignan's vulgar appearance and sets the tone for their confrontation._

> I have drawn an imaginary circle round Paris.

I have mapped out a plan that covers the area around Paris.

_Perpignan describes his methodical approach to finding the lost child._

> I put on a bold face, however, and asked for the boy's description.

I pretended to be confident and requested a description of the boy.

_Perpignan admits to bluffing about his ability to find the child._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters/xxii-diamond-cut-diamond
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_slaves_of_paris_se/chapters