Status Updates From Les Mystères de Paris

Part 2 ch. 9-10 - very long chapters. R. (main character, "Robin Hood" type) is a nobleman but nobody knows that yet...but the reader does! (dramatic irony). He is going to rent an apt in a building to get more information about "people of interest". The concierge (M/Mme Piplet) tell him stories about the other renters. R. is listening closely. What is he going to do...help some of these poor people later?

A trend is appearing: Sue writes several "simple chapters" with dialogue, robberies, meetings in thieves dens...then we get a INFO bomb! This suspense device is often called a "serial hook" or "episode hook." This technique was especially popular in feuilleton novels. It works...I can't wait for the next chapter!