An Artful Trick explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Secrecy

  The entire scene with Van Klopen and Croisenois is revealed as a staged trick to create a false obligation and gain influence over the Viscountess and, through her, the Mussidans.

• Power and Manipulation

  Croisenois uses money and a fabricated debt to manipulate the Viscountess, and André suspects he holds similar power over the Count and Countess de Mussidan to force a marriage with Sabine.

Characters to notice

• Viscountess de Bois Arden

  Arrives in tears, needing twenty thousand francs; recounts the scene with Van Klopen and Croisenois; agrees to help André and De Breulh by keeping Croisenois in good humor.

• M. de Breulh-Faverlay

  Lends the Viscountess money and listens to her story; joins André in suspecting Croisenois of extortion.

• André

  Analyzes the inconsistencies in the Viscountess's story—Van Klopen not counting the money, the receipt being taken back—and deduces Croisenois's scheme.

• George de Croisenois

  The Marquis de Croisenois pays the Viscountess's tailor bill in a staged scene, then asks for an introduction to Sabine de Mussidan; suspected of being the extortionist controlling the Mussidans.

• Van Klopen

  The ladies' tailor who bursts into the Viscountess's drawing-room demanding payment; his behavior is later revealed to be part of a trick with Croisenois.

Key passages

• “I will act as you advise.” “Remember you must not allude in your letter to his introduction to the Mussidans. What do you think, André?” “I think a receipt for the money would be a great thing,” answered he. “But such a demand would arouse his suspicions.” “I think not, madame, and I see a way of doing it; have you a maid upon whom you could rely?” “Yes, I have one.” “Good, then give the girl a letter and the notes done up in a separate parcel, and tell her exactly what she is to do. When she sees the Marquis, let her pretend to be alarmed at the great responsibility that she is incurring in carrying this large sum, and insist upon a receipt for her own protection.””

  André suggests that the Viscountess use a trusted maid to deliver the money and demand a receipt from Croisenois, pretending to be nervous about the responsibility, so they can have written proof of the transaction.

  André devises a clever plan to obtain evidence against Croisenois without arousing suspicion.

• “He is good-looking, faultlessly dressed, and talks well. He brought a letter from an old friend of my grandmother’s, the Marchioness d’Arlanges. She is a dear old thing, she uses awful language, and some of her stories are quite too⁠—you know what I mean. In the letter the old lady said that the Marquis was one of her friends, and begged me for her sake to do him the service he required.”

  The Viscountess describes Croisenois as charming and well-mannered, and explains that he came with a letter of introduction from the Marchioness d’Arlanges, asking for a favor.

  Croisenois uses social connections to gain access to the Viscountess, setting the stage for his scheme.

• “I never knew such a strange occurrence,” continued the Viscountess, recovering her spirits rapidly, “as that to which, my dear Gontran, you owe my visit. Well, I was just going up to dress, for I had been detained by visitor after visitor, when at two o’clock another came before I could give my order, ‘Not at home.’ This was the Marquis de Croisenois, the brother of the man who twenty years ago disappeared in so mysterious a manner.”

  The Viscountess tells De Breulh that Croisenois arrived just as she was about to dress, and that he is the brother of a man who vanished twenty years ago under mysterious circumstances.

  The mention of Croisenois's brother's disappearance adds an air of mystery and suggests a family history of intrigue.