The Monster · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Monster by Edgar Saltus.
Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.
Chapter 1
I
Leilah and Verplank marry against her father's wishes, but shortly after the wedding, Leilah discovers incriminating letters that shatter her world. She flees Coronado, leaving Verplank bewildered and desperate to find her.
Chapter 2
II
In Paris, Howard Tempest attends a dinner at the home of his cousin, the Duchesse de Joyeuse, where he meets the beautiful and enigmatic Madame Barouffska (formerly Mrs. Verplank). The evening is filled with witty, often cynical conversation among the guests, touching on marriage, fate, spiritual ideas, and social scandals. Tempest and Leilah Barouffska share a private conversation about fate and a mystical philosophy from the Vidya, while Aurelia, Violet Silverstairs, and others engage in light-hearted banter. The chapter establishes the sophisticated, morally ambiguous world of the expatriate aristocracy.
Chapter 3
III
Leilah Verplank, after fleeing from Coronado, suffers a breakdown and recuperates in Salt Lake City. She then travels to Carson, Nevada, where she secures a divorce from Verplank through questionable legal means. Meanwhile, Verplank mistakenly pursues her to Samoa and the austral seas. Leilah later stays with the Silverstairs in Paris, where she meets Count Kasimiérz Barouffski after he saves her from a fire at a dinner party. Barouffski begins to court her, and Violet Silverstairs warns Leilah about his intentions.
Chapter 4
IV
Verplank arrives at a Parisian salon hosted by the Duchesse de Joyeuse, where he encounters Violet Silverstairs and learns that Leilah is now with Barouffski. A tense confrontation occurs when Verplank unexpectedly meets Leilah and Barouffski in a gallery, but Violet intervenes. Verplank struggles with rage and jealousy, briefly considering a violent confrontation before leaving abruptly.
Chapter 5
V
Verplank, Silverstairs, and de Fresnoy discuss the etiquette of dueling in response to Barouffski's insult. De Fresnoy agrees to act as a second and writes a formal challenge to Barouffski. Verplank reflects on his past with Leilah and glimpses her in a passing motor, but she disappears into the fog.
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