The Secret of the Night

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

1686

Title

The Secret of the Night

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In a Russia gripped by revolutionary terror, General Trebassof faces assassination attempts that threaten his life and the safety of his family. Reporter Joseph Rouletabille arrives to investigate a deep mystery involving poison, false accusations, and a devoted wife's desperate deception. A tale of suspense, loyalty, and the dark secrets hidden within the night.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the turbulent backdrop of Russia on the brink of revolution, Gaston Leroux's *The Secret of the Night* chronicles the harrowing ordeal of General Trebassof, a decorated soldier haunted by the memory of the 'youth of Moscow' and targeted by assassination plots. Injured and suffering from mysterious poisoning, the General is fiercely guarded by his devoted wife, Matrena Petrovna, and his step-daughter, Natacha. The narrative intensifies with the arrival of Joseph Rouletabille, a young French reporter from *L'Époque*, who is summoned by the Tsar to investigate the General's condition. Rouletabille quickly becomes entangled in a web of danger and deception. He observes that the General's suffering is not merely the result of revolutionary bombs but involves a complex plot of simulated poisoning. Matrena Petrovna, convinced that Natacha is a revolutionary conspirator, attempts to save her husband by faking his death and poisoning. Her deception is complicated by the presence of a revolutionary named Michael Nikolaievitch and the General's traumatic nightmares. Through keen observation and logical deduction, Rouletabille uncovers the truth: Matrena had the antidote, ipecac, with her during the alleged poisoning event, proving the attack was staged. He demonstrates that the time elapsed between Matrena fleeing the scene and returning was insufficient for her to have gone to the medicine closet as she claimed, exposing her lie. The story culminates in a dramatic confrontation before the Tsar. Rouletabille reveals that Matrena's actions, though appearing monstrous, were driven by a desperate love and a misguided belief that removing Natacha from the danger zone was necessary to save the General. The Tsar, moved by Matrena's sacrifice and the manipulation by the Chief of Police and the General's former associates, grants a pardon. The narrative resolves with the restoration of Natacha's honor, the release of the falsely accused revolutionary, and the General's survival. The tale concludes with the family's safety secured, the reporter's courage vindicated, and the Tsar's promise to protect them from further political retribution, highlighting themes of loyalty, the danger of prejudice, and the power of truth.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery