Facing the Flag · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Facing the Flag by Jules Verne.

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Chapter 1
Healthful House
The chapter introduces Thomas Roch, a brilliant but mentally unstable French inventor who has created a powerful explosive device called the 'fulgurator.' Due to his mental alienation and exorbitant demands, he has been sequestered in Healthful House, a private sanitarium in the United States. His guardian, Gaydon, is actually Simon Hart, a French engineer who has taken the job in secret to ensure that Roch's invention benefits France alone. Hart has watched Roch for fifteen months, hoping to learn the secret of the fulgurator during the inventor's lucid or delirious moments, but so far without success.
Chapter 2
Count d'Artigas
Count d'Artigas, accompanied by Captain Spade, visits Healthful House under the pretense of curiosity about the institution, but his true motive is to observe Thomas Roch, the mad French inventor. During the tour, the director explains Roch's deteriorating mental state and the constant watch kept over him by his attendant Gaydon. When Roch is brought out, he demonstrates his obsession with his 'fulgurator' and refuses to sell it for less than billions. The Count and Spade carefully note the layout of the grounds, hinting at a prearranged scheme.
Chapter 3
III: Kidnapped
Count d'Artigas and Captain Spade finalize their plan to kidnap Thomas Roch and his warder Gaydon from Healthful House. Spade has stolen the key to a rear door and unbolted it earlier. That night, he leads five sailors to the pavilion, where they find Roch incapacitated and Gaydon present. They successfully abduct both men, bringing them to the schooner Ebba.
Chapter 4
The Schooner Ebba
The Ebba prepares to depart from New-Berne as alarm guns signal the discovery of Thomas Roch and Gaydon's disappearance from Healthful House. A boarding party from the cruiser Falcon searches the schooner thoroughly, but finds no trace of the missing men. After the search, the Count d'Artigas is allowed to proceed, and the Ebba sails out, later picking up a submerged buoy that tows the vessel at high speed out to sea.
Chapter 5
V: Where Am I?
Simon Hart, still disguised as warder Gaydon, awakens in a dark, metallic cell after being kidnapped alongside Thomas Roch. He deduces they are aboard a vessel with an unusual propulsion system, lacking typical engine noise or motion. Resolving to maintain his disguise, he vows to observe and record everything, hoping to uncover the kidnappers' identities and Roch's secret.

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Healthful House

Count d'Artigas

III: Kidnapped

The Schooner Ebba

V: Where Am I?