The Council of Justice · Chapter
XIII: The “Rational Faithers” explained
Gonsalez and Poiccart discuss the 'Rational Faithers,' a protest group led by Peter Sweeney, and their potential use as cover for a prison rescue plan.
What happens
Gonsalez and Poiccart discuss the 'Rational Faithers,' a protest group led by Peter Sweeney, and their potential use as cover for a prison rescue plan. Gonsalez creates detailed prison plans, which are later discovered by Falmouth after a sting operation at a Gower Street boarding house. Falmouth shows the plans to the Commissioner, then informs Manfred, who reacts with calm amusement and asks to see a solicitor to make a will.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Manfred’s emotional and psychological peak occurs in his moment of weary reaction, where he acknowledges that…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Intelligence and Cunning as Weapons
Gonsalez uses the Rational Faithers as a clever cover and creates elaborate prison plans; the decoy at Gower Street demonstrates strategic deception.
- Public Opinion and Media Influence
The Rational Faithers exploit public demonstrations and chants to protest capital punishment, showing how organized opinion can be manipulated.
Characters to notice
- Leon Gonsalez
Devises the plan to use the Rational Faithers as cover; draws detailed prison plans; orchestrates the decoy at Gower Street.
- Poiccart
Sits with Gonsalez, listens to his scheme, and comments on his cleverness.
- Superintendent Falmouth
Discovers the false-bottomed portmanteau and the prison plans; reports to the Commissioner; visits Manfred in prison.
- George Manfred
Receives a visit from Falmouth; reacts with a smile to the news of the discovered plans; decides to make a will.
- Peter Sweeney
Leader of the Rational Faithers; described as a wealthy slum landlord who funds the movement and its brass band.
Key passages
“Come fight the gallant fight, This horror to undo; Two blacks will never make a white, Nor legal murder too.”
Join the struggle to end capital punishment; two wrongs don't make a right, and state execution is just another murder.
Gonsalez recites a chant from the Rational Faithers, mocking their simplistic anti-capital-punishment rhetoric.
“Have you ever felt a desire to draw imaginary islands? ... Because I'm going to do something like that—I feel in that mood which in little boys is eloquently described as 'trying,' and I have the inclination to annoy Scotland Yard.”
Gonsalez compares his prison-plan drawing to a child's game of making imaginary maps, but his real aim is to mislead the police.
Gonsalez's playful remark to Poiccart reveals his intention to create a decoy that will frustrate Scotland Yard.
