# When the Lights Went Out explained — The Three Just Men

> Chapter companion for The Three Just Men by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

After the Arts Ball, the Three Just Men tend to a drugged Mirabelle Leicester in a safe house. Leon Gonsalez revives her with an antidote while they evade Gurther and Oberzohn's men. They smuggle Mirabelle out via a mews, and Leon fires a signal rocket to scare off their pursuers. Inspector Meadows investigates the ballroom, and later visits the house, but is deceived by Poiccart's butler act.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Disguise

Poiccart poses as a butler to fool Meadows; the Three Just Men use misdirection and false signals to evade their enemies.

### Crime and Punishment

The drugging of Mirabelle, the attempted murder, and the pursuit of Gurther highlight the criminal underworld and the Just Men's extrajudicial actions.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

The Three Just Men's loyalty to each other and to Mirabelle contrasts with the betrayal by Gurther and Oberzohn's gang.

## Character check-ins

### Leon Gonsalez

Revives Mirabelle with a hypodermic, orchestrates her escape, fires a signal rocket to scare off attackers.

### Mirabelle Leicester

Drugged at the Arts Ball, unconscious and revived by Leon, then smuggled out of the house.

### George Manfred

Watches over Mirabelle, helps with the escape, shoots at an attacker in the mews.

### Raymond Poiccart

Acts as butler to deceive Inspector Meadows, assists in the escape and defense.

### Gurther

Mentioned as the one who drugged Mirabelle; his description is given to police; he is the target of the Three Just Men.

### Inspector Meadows

Investigates the ballroom after the lights go out, visits the safe house but is misled by Poiccart.

## Key lines

> Will she die?

George Manfred asks if Mirabelle will die from the drug.

_Shows the immediate danger Mirabelle is in._

> I think you'll just miss the real excitement

Leon tells the nurse she will avoid the upcoming confrontation.

_Highlights Leon's anticipation of further violence._

> They will imagine a secret arrangement of signals with the police

Leon predicts the rocket will make their enemies think they have a police signaling system.

_Demonstrates Leon's psychological manipulation tactics._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters/x-when-the-lights-went-out
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters