The Trail of the Serpent · Chapter
The New Milkman in Park Lane explained
In the household of the Count de Marolles, kitchenmaid Mrs.
What happens
In the household of the Count de Marolles, kitchenmaid Mrs. Moper and scullerymaid Liza take a break before dinner preparations. A new milkman, calling himself Mr. Volpes, arrives to correct a billing error. He claims to be from Berkshire and engages the servants in conversation, subtly extracting information about the Count and Countess. When Mrs. Moper mentions the need for a temporary tiger (a footman), Volpes eagerly offers to send a boy. After leaving, he removes a wig and disguise, revealing himself to be Daredevil Dick, who has begun his scheme against the Count.
Themes in this chapter
Duality and Deception
Daredevil Dick adopts a false identity as a milkman, using disguise and deception to infiltrate the Count's household.
Social Class and Inequality
The chapter highlights the rigid class distinctions among servants and between servants and their masters, as seen in Mrs. Moper's aspirations and the Count's aloofness.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Moper
The kitchenmaid who converses with the disguised milkman and reveals details about the Count's household.
- Raymond Marolles
The Count de Marolles, whose household is the setting; discussed by the servants as haughty and wealthy.
- Daredevil Dick
The disguised milkman, revealed at the end to be Daredevil Dick, initiating his plan against the Count.
- Mademoiselle Finette
Mentioned as the Countess's French maid, one of the few servants brought from South America.
- Volpes
The alias used by Daredevil Dick while disguised as the milkman.
Key passages
“Which, Mrs. Moper says, 'my toes is through and my heels is out, and never can I get the time to set a stitch. For time there isn't any in this house for a under-servant, which under-servant I will be no more than one year longer; or say my name's not Sarah Moper.'”
Mrs. Moper complains that her stockings are full of holes and she never has time to mend them, vowing she will not remain an under-servant for more than another year.
Illustrates the drudgery and low status of under-servants in a wealthy household.
“Daredevil Dick has made the first move in that fearful game of chess which is to be played between him and the Count de Marolles.”
Daredevil Dick has initiated his dangerous scheme against the Count de Marolles.
Foreshadows the conflict between Dick and the Count.