Victory · Chapter
X explained
Ricardo and Mr.
What happens
Ricardo and Mr. Jones discuss their plan to extract Heyst's hidden treasure. Ricardo worries about the presence of Wang and secretly decides to keep the existence of Lena from Mr. Jones, fearing his leader's aversion to women will complicate their scheme.
Themes in this chapter
Evil and Predation
Ricardo and Mr. Jones plot to rob and possibly kill Heyst, viewing him as prey to be exploited.
Isolation and Detachment
Heyst's solitude on the island is seen as both a vulnerability and a form of armor by his would-be predators.
Gender and Power
Ricardo's decision to conceal Lena's presence reflects Mr. Jones's extreme aversion to women, which complicates their power dynamics.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Jones
Lies on a couch, feigning illness, and discusses strategy with Ricardo; his aversion to women is noted.
- Martin Ricardo
Plots the extraction of Heyst's treasure, worries about Wang, and deliberately conceals Lena's presence from Mr. Jones.
- Axel Heyst
Referenced as the target of the plot; his solitary nature and cryptic behavior are discussed.
- Wang
Mentioned as a potential obstacle; Ricardo considers him a threat to their plans.
- Lena
Secretly known to Ricardo; he decides to hide her existence from Mr. Jones to avoid complications.
- Schomberg
Referenced as the source of information about Heyst that led to the current venture.
Key passages
“The figure of a lonely man far from all assistance had loomed up largely, fascinating and defenceless in the middle of the sea, filling the whole field of their vision.”
They saw Heyst as a solitary, vulnerable target, captivating and unprotected, dominating their thoughts.
Describes how Ricardo and Mr. Jones perceive Heyst as an easy mark.
“But it did not look so simple now in the face of that solitude which was like an armour for this man.”
Now that they are on the island, Heyst's isolation seems to protect him, making their task harder than expected.
Reflects the shift in their confidence upon confronting Heyst's actual situation.
“I wonder if you were sleeping as sound as you are trying to make out, sir.”
Ricardo questions whether Mr. Jones was truly asleep or just pretending.
Shows the tension and mistrust between the two criminals.