How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Madame Froufrou started again. "Could the fashionable ladies here please raise their hands and display the most fashionable quantities of money they can….And please do check that those around you are fashionable!" (13.43)
Madame Froufrou (a.k.a. Snatcher in disguise) seems to have this scam down to an art. Not only does he emphasize that physical appearances and fashion are the most important things ever, but he also gets the ladies to start self-policing. The competitive vibe is pretty strong here, so this must be an effective strategy.
Quote #5
"A woman of grace and virtue! Now, my angel, if you would place your offering in the bucket affixed to our fashion wand and take a numbered ticket, I shall invite you to collect your very precious, new lifestyle accessory from the stage, and lo…You shall be a queen among women!" (13.56)
Okay, let's see if we understand this: Being able to make a monetary contribution to the fashionista's account will get you a fashionable accessory that will somehow make you the most beautiful and sought-after person in Ratbridge? Does altering your external appearance really cause all that to happen? And why is money tied up in this pursuit of beauty? Seems a little fishy to us.
Quote #6
"I'm not sure, but, well, I know it's strange, but I got the same feeling when I was looking at her that I got when the leader of the cheese hunt cornered me. She could have been his twin sister." (13.80)
Arthur's telling Willbury that Madame Froufrou gives him a weird vibe—specifically, a weird vibe that reminds him of Snatcher. We know that Arthur hasn't been exposed to much of the outside world, but it doesn't even seem to occur to him that cross-dressing might be the answer to this mystery.