# XVII explained — The Special Correspondent

> Chapter companion for The Special Correspondent by Jules Verne.

## What happens

Claudius Bombarnac reflects on the monotony of the journey along the Grand Transasiatic Railway, lamenting the lack of excitement and the failure of his expected dramatic episodes. He observes the other passengers, including the Caternas rehearsing a duet, Ephrinell and Miss Bluett discussing commerce, and Dr. Tio-King reciting Cornaro. At Khotan, he receives a telegram revealing that the train is not carrying a mandarin's corpse but the imperial treasure worth fifteen million francs, correcting his earlier report.

## Themes in this chapter

### Journalism and Observation

Claudius Bombarnac's role as a correspondent is central; he laments the lack of sensational material and receives a telegram correcting his earlier report, highlighting the journalist's reliance on accurate information.

### Travel and Adventure

The chapter describes the train journey through Chinese Turkestan, with observations of landscapes, stations, and local culture, while Claudius yearns for more excitement.

### Commerce and Enterprise

Ephrinell and Miss Bluett discuss market fluctuations in hair and teeth, hoping for war to boost trade, reflecting the commercial interests driving the journey.

## Character check-ins

### Claudius Bombarnac

The narrator and correspondent, frustrated by the lack of sensational events, receives a telegram correcting his earlier report about the train's cargo.

### Faruskiar

A high functionary of the railway company, traveling incognito; Claudius considers seeking his protection.

### Kinko

Sleeping in the front van, dreaming of his Romanian fiancée; Claudius does not wake him.

### Monsieur Caterna

The actor rehearsing the duet 'I'm fond of my wether' with his wife.

### Madame Caterna

The actress rehearsing the duet 'I'm fond of my turkeys' with her husband.

### Fulk Ephrinell

Engaged in commercial conversation with Miss Bluett, hoping for a war to boost trade.

## Key lines

> I am forced to admit that up to the present my personages have not behaved as I expected. The drama does not run well, the action languishes.

Claudius confesses that the characters have not acted as he hoped, and the story lacks excitement.

_Claudius's meta-commentary on the narrative's lack of drama._

> It is not the corpse of a mandarin that the train is taking to Peking, but the imperial treasure, value fifteen millions, sent from Persia to China, as announced in the Paris newspapers eight days ago; endeavor to be better informed for the future.

The telegram informs Claudius that the train carries a treasure worth fifteen million francs, not a mandarin's corpse, and scolds him for being misinformed.

_Key plot twist revealing the true nature of the cargo._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_special_correspondent_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters