- description
- # CHAPTER XXXI.
A METAMORPHOSIS MORE SURPRISING THAN ANY IN OVID.
## Overview - What this is (type, form, dates, scope)
This is a chapter from the novel, "[THE CONFIDENCE-MAN: HIS MASQUERADE.](arke:01KG8AJ86G6HP7TCHND218MWGA)" extracted from the text file "[the_confidence_man.txt](arke:01KG89J1JMR8XVKPA0G8ADAPC4)". The chapter is labeled "CHAPTER XXXI.\nA METAMORPHOSIS MORE SURPRISING THAN ANY IN OVID." and contains text from lines 7978 to 8001 of the source file. It is part of the "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection.
## Context - Background and provenance from related entities
This chapter is part of Herman Melville's novel, "THE CONFIDENCE-MAN: HIS MASQUERADE." The novel and its chapters were extracted from the text file "the_confidence_man.txt," which is part of the "Melville Complete Works" collection. This chapter follows "[CHAPTER XXX.](arke:01KG8AJMV9MSRGN5AE81C6QV95)" and precedes "[CHAPTER XXXII.
SHOWING THAT THE AGE OF MAGIC AND MAGICIANS IS NOT YET OVER.](arke:01KG8AJMVHT4AQ47PQ3N81E7A9)"
## Contents - What it contains, key subjects and details
The chapter opens with a dialogue between two characters, one of whom is requesting money. The chapter's title suggests a surprising transformation, and the text hints at a deception or role-playing scenario. The scene involves a request for money and a subsequent angry reaction, with one character accusing the other of being an impostor.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:41.630Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- CHAPTER XXXI.
- end_line
- 8001
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:36.061Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 7978
- text
- CHAPTER XXXI.
A METAMORPHOSIS MORE SURPRISING THAN ANY IN OVID.
"In want of money!" pushing back his chair as from a suddenly-disclosed
man-trap or crater.
"Yes," naïvely assented the cosmopolitan, "and you are going to loan me
fifty dollars. I could almost wish I was in need of more, only for your
sake. Yes, my dear Charlie, for your sake; that you might the better
prove your noble, kindliness, my dear Charlie."
"None of your dear Charlies," cried the other, springing to his feet,
and buttoning up his coat, as if hastily to depart upon a long journey.
"Why, why, why?" painfully looking up.
"None of your why, why, whys!" tossing out a foot, "go to the devil,
sir! Beggar, impostor!--never so deceived in a man in my life."
- title
- CHAPTER XXXI.
A METAMORPHOSIS MORE SURPRISING THAN ANY IN OVID.