The Slaves of Paris · Chapter
The Spy explained
André follows Verminet to Mascarin's Servants' Registry Office, where he sees him meet with two men.
What happens
André follows Verminet to Mascarin's Servants' Registry Office, where he sees him meet with two men. He then encounters Toto Chupin, a chestnut seller, who warns him he is being watched. André meets M. de Breulh-Faverlay, who confirms he is being followed; they attempt to shake off the spy but fail.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrecy
André's surveillance of Verminet and the subsequent counter-surveillance by unknown agents highlight the pervasive secrecy and deception.
Power and Manipulation
Mascarin's network and the spy following André demonstrate the manipulative power structures at play.
Characters to notice
- André
Follows Verminet, observes Mascarin's office, meets Toto Chupin, and later meets with De Breulh to discuss being followed.
- Verminet
Swaggers down the street, visits Mascarin's office, then goes with another man to the banker Martin Rigal.
- Baptiste Mascarin
His Servants' Registry Office is visited by Verminet; he is one of the two men who come out with Verminet.
- Toto Chupin
Chestnut seller who argues about selling his pitch, warns André that he is being watched.
- M. de Breulh-Faverlay
Meets André as planned, discusses the danger from De Croisenois and the spy following them.
Key passages
“André had no difficulty in following his man, though detective’s business was quite new to him, which is no such easy matter, although everyone thinks that he can become one.”
André found it easy to tail Verminet, even though he had no experience in detective work—a task that is harder than most people assume.
Highlights André's inexperience and the difficulty of surveillance.
“I have struck a vein of good luck today; and now if my little friend the chestnut seller can only tell me the names of these men, I have done a good day’s work.”
André thinks he is on a lucky streak and hopes the chestnut seller can identify the men he saw.
Shows André's optimism and reliance on chance encounters.
“By heavens, said he; that was a man. I thought that I was throwing a spy off the track, and I was in reality only treating him to a drive.”
De Breulh realizes that the spy had clung to the carriage, so their attempt to escape was futile.
Reveals the persistence of the surveillance and the characters' vulnerability.