One might ask how someone like Falco ends up tutoring someone like Mayann. All will be revealed in time, but at least superficially, the reason is financial (for him) and social (for her; she really wants to learn French since the American expat community in Paris bores her, but it is difficult to find a serious teacher when you’re a pretty girl… Perhaps this guy can pass the test?).

Some useful links:
Tartuffe (I have actually participated in a Molière play – it was in L’Avare, or The Miser, in high school)
History of Printemps, the department store (It was ravaged by a fire in 1921, a year later – should we suspect Volkov?)