A charming repeat offender resumes his schemes after prison, but a personal connection becomes entangled with a museum theft and its discovery.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Release Into Mischief
Victor leaves prison after three months, while the guards feel unexpectedly sad at his departure. He immediately returns to theft and fraud.
Key Events
Victor Leaves Prison — Victor Vauthier leaves prison after a three-month imprisonment. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Prison
Guards Regret His Departure — The guards feel great sadness because they had grown fond of Victor. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Prison
The Rogue Resumes His Ways — Victor refuses to abandon his established ways after release. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Unspecified
A Series Of Thefts — Victor immediately carries out a series of thefts. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Unspecified
Parole And Attraction
Victor must report to Marie-Charlotte, his parole officer. Their immediate rapport introduces a personal connection that conflicts with Victor's criminal habits.
Key Events
Fraud Follows Theft — Victor supplements his thefts with a series of frauds. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Unspecified
Parole Reporting Begins — Victor begins fulfilling his obligation to report to parole officer Marie-Charlotte. Characters: Victor Vauthier, Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Parole reporting office
An Immediate Connection — Victor and Marie-Charlotte immediately hit it off during their encounter. Characters: Victor Vauthier, Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Parole reporting office
Opportunity Behind Affection
Victor does not abandon his intentions despite getting along with Marie-Charlotte. He begins considering how his proximity to her could support a theft.
Key Events
Criminal Intent Persists — Despite the connection, Victor continues considering how to profit from it. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Unspecified
Proximity Becomes Leverage — Victor views his proximity to Marie-Charlotte as an opportunity for a theft. Characters: Victor Vauthier, Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Unspecified
The Triptych Is Targeted — Victor's intended target is a triptych by El Greco. Characters: Victor VauthierLocation: Senlis Museum
The Museum Target
Victor focuses on an El Greco triptych held at the Senlis Museum. Marie-Charlotte's connection to the museum makes the target relevant to his plan.
Key Events
The Museum Holds The Prize — The El Greco triptych is located in the Senlis Museum. Characters: Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Senlis Museum
A Museum Connection Emerges — The museum is connected to Marie-Charlotte because her father works there as a custodian. Characters: Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Senlis Museum
Victor Pursues The Scheme — Victor attempts to exploit his proximity to Marie-Charlotte to steal the triptych. Characters: Victor Vauthier, Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Senlis Museum
The Plan Revealed
Victor attempts to use his proximity to Marie-Charlotte in the planned theft. Marie-Charlotte eventually discovers what he intends to do.
Key Events
Marie-Charlotte Sees Through Him — Marie-Charlotte eventually figures out Victor's plan. Characters: Victor Vauthier, Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Senlis Museum
The Scheme Is Exposed — Victor's intended museum theft is no longer concealed from Marie-Charlotte. Characters: Victor Vauthier, Marie-Charlotte PontalecLocation: Senlis Museum
Story Breakdown
Prison Release — Victor leaves prison and immediately re-enters a life of deception.
Three Month Imprisonment — Victor completes a three-month prison term.
Guards' Attachment — The guards feel sadness because they had grown fond of him.
Rogue Resurgence — Victor refuses to give up his established behavior after release.
New Thefts — He immediately carries out a series of thefts.
New Frauds — He also resumes fraudulent schemes.
Parole Oversight — Victor's release places him under Marie-Charlotte's parole supervision.
Required Reporting — Victor must report to Marie-Charlotte as his parole officer.
Formal Encounter — Their parole relationship brings them into direct contact.
Unexpected Rapport — The formal parole relationship quickly develops a strong personal ease.
They Hit It Off — Victor and Marie-Charlotte immediately get along.
Trust Complicated — Victor's ongoing criminal intentions undermine the significance of their connection.
Museum Heist Scheme — Victor tries to turn his proximity to Marie-Charlotte into access to an artwork.
El Greco Triptych — The planned target is a triptych by El Greco.
Senlis Museum — The artwork is located in the Senlis Museum.
Scheme Discovered — Marie-Charlotte eventually recognizes Victor's intention and exposes the deception.
Proximity Exploited — Victor attempts to profit from his connection with Marie-Charlotte.
Plan Uncovered — Marie-Charlotte figures out Victor's plan.
Victor Vautier is incorrigible: he's in constant motion, working several cons at once, using different names and changing disguises. He's charming and outrageous, incapable of uttering a sentence that isn't embellished or an outright lie. His life goal is to make enough money to build a sea wall to protect Mont-Saint-Michel. Charlotte, a parole officer, shows up: she's young and seems taken in by Victor. He discovers she lives above the Senlus Museum, where her parents are the curators. With two pals he decides to steal a priceless El Greco triptych and then ransom it back to the cultural ministry. What will Charlotte do when she realizes he's used her to make a fortune?
