A decorated Paris thief uses compassion, intelligence, and impersonation to move from criminal notoriety toward social recognition and romantic possibility.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Elusive Paris Thief
Jules Marin is introduced as a clever Paris thief decorated with the Croix de guerre. His affection for children and loyalty within the underworld establish his divided public identity.
Key Events
Paris Thief Evades Police — Marin is known as a clever thief whom the police cannot catch. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Paris
Croix de Guerre Decoration — Marin has been decorated with the Croix de guerre. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Unspecified
Marin Protects Children — Marin loves children and has adopted an orphan chosen among refugees. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Refugee community
Underworld Warning — People warn Marin whenever the police are approaching. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Paris
Restaurant Trap Revealed — An Apache tells the prefect that Marin will be at a particular restaurant. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Restaurant
Mercy Before Escape
A police trap is arranged at a restaurant, but Marin leaves after learning that an adopted orphan is sick. His automobile breaks down, forcing him to seek help from Anton Deprenay's household.
Key Events
Restaurant Trap Revealed — An Apache tells the prefect that Marin will be at a particular restaurant. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Restaurant
Sick Orphan Summons Marin — Marin learns that one of his adopted orphans is sick and leaves the restaurant. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Restaurant
Automobile Breaks Down — Marin's car breaks down while he is traveling to the sick orphan. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Road to the orphan
Request At Deprenay Home — Marin goes to jeweler Anton Deprenay's home to obtain another car. Characters: Jules Marin / M. Picard, Anton DeprenayLocation: Anton Deprenay's home
Borrowed Car Secured — Marin receives permission to use the family car and leaves his decoration as collateral. Characters: Jules Marin / M. Picard, Anton DeprenayLocation: Deprenay home
The Borrowed Automobile
Marin obtains the Deprenay family car by leaving his military decoration as collateral. The police record the vehicle, but the car is returned before the prefect can use it against him.
Key Events
Police Record Car Number — The police follow the borrowed car and record its number. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Paris road
Car Returns Safely — When the prefect visits, the borrowed car has already been returned. Characters: Anton DeprenayLocation: Deprenay home
Disguised Party Introduction — At a party, Marin is introduced under the name M. Picard. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
A Name Under Suspicion
At a party, Marin appears as M. Picard but is recognized by his voice. A necklace theft then places him under suspicion, creating a direct test of his reputation.
Key Events
Voice Gives Him Away — The jeweler's daughter recognizes Marin by his voice despite his assumed identity. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
Crooked Promoter Recognized — Marin recognizes a crooked promoter among the party guests. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
Necklace Disappears — A necklace is stolen during the party. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
Marin Faces Suspicion — The jeweler's daughter suspects Marin after the necklace theft. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
Gems Recovered — Marin proves his innocence and recovers the stolen gems. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
Recognition And Rescue
Marin recovers the stolen gems and hears that social honor must equal his battlefield recognition. He exposes a fraudulent financial scheme while posing as a Scotland Yard investigator, helping recover the stolen money before departing by automobile.
Key Events
A Test Of Social Honor — Marin is told that social recognition must match his battlefield recognition before friendship is possible. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Party
Financial Scheme Discovered — Marin learns that the crooked promoter plans to swindle the community out of millions. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Unspecified
Scotland Yard Impersonation — Marin poses as an investigator from Scotland Yard to assist the police. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Unspecified
Millions Recovered — Marin helps the prefect recover the money targeted by the fraudulent scheme. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Unspecified
Automobile Departure — Marin and the jeweler's daughter ride away together in an automobile. Characters: Jules Marin / M. PicardLocation: Road
Story Breakdown
Paris Rogue Established — Marin's criminal skill, war decoration, and underworld popularity define his unusual reputation.
Untouchable Thief — The police cannot catch Marin despite his reputation as a Paris thief.
Decorated Compassion — He possesses a Croix de guerre and cares for adopted orphaned children.
Restaurant Trap — A jealous informant creates a police opportunity, but Marin's concern for a sick orphan changes his course.
Police Ambush — The prefect is told that Marin will appear at a particular restaurant.
Merciful Departure — Marin leaves after learning that one of his adopted orphans is sick.
Borrowed Automobile — A breakdown sends Marin to the Deprenay home, where he obtains a vehicle under unusual collateral.
Roadside Breakdown — Marin's car fails while he is traveling to the sick orphan.
Medal As Collateral — He leaves his military decoration while using the Deprenay family car.
Party Identity Test — Marin enters society under an assumed name, but recognition and suspicion quickly threaten his disguise.
M Picard Introduced — Marin is presented at a party as M. Picard.
Voice Recognition — The jeweler's daughter identifies him by his voice.
Necklace Investigation — A stolen necklace turns Marin's social test into a direct accusation and forces him to demonstrate his innocence.
Jewelry Theft — A necklace disappears during the party.
Gems Recovered — Marin proves his innocence and recovers the gems.
Financial Rescue — Marin redirects his criminal intelligence toward stopping a large-scale scheme against the community.
Million-Dollar Scheme — He learns that a crooked promoter plans to swindle the community out of millions.
False Investigator — Marin poses as a Scotland Yard investigator and helps recover the money.
Romantic Departure — After Marin's acts of courage and recovery efforts, the story closes with an automobile departure.
Social Recognition — He is told that social recognition must match his battlefield recognition.
Ride Away Together — Marin and the jeweler's daughter leave together in an automobile.
A welcome guest of the French aristocracy, Monsieur Picard having been awarded the Croix De Guerre, is also a master thief who baffles the Parisian police. One night, while Picard watches an Apache dance, he learns that one of his three adopted children is seriously ill. When his car breaks down, Picard politely forces Helen Deprenay to loan him her auto, and leaves his cross as security. The next day, the police pursue Picard to the Deprenay home where the prefect warns Helen about Picard. Helen writes to the entreating Picard, and refuses to see him until he proves himself of worth to society. Disguised as Scotland Yard agent Armand DuBois, Picard is present at the Deprenay home when a necklace is stolen. After Helen covers for him, Picard catches the thief in an attempt to swindle the entire community in a stock market scheme. He informs the police that Picard no longer exists, and escapes with Helen to a new life.
