The term "chaser," as used by drinkers, is getting to be somewhat outdated. It means a drink of something bland or sweet to follow-up a straight shot of something like whiskey, gin, rum, or tequila. It is called a chaser because it is drunk quickly after the initial strong shot of liquor, which has a high alcohol content. When John Collier used the word in his title in The New Yorker in 1940, almost all readers would have understood his reference. Some contemporary readers do not understood the connotation of the word, however, likely because they think it has something to do with chasing after women, which is definitely what Alan Austen is doing.
The term as used in Collier's story means the old man who sells love potions also has a follow-up potion for sale which acts as an undetectable poison. The old man assumes a young man who is so anxious to get a girl to fall in love with him will get tired of her clinging and possessiveness and will be a good customer for the much more expensive "chaser," which will get rid of her.
The story is an example of "black humor." It is not to be taken too seriously, although it contains a truth, which is that the honeymoon period of romance does not last forever. The old man warns Alan Austen:
"She will want to know all you do," said the old man. All that has happened to you during the day. Every word of it. She will want to know what you are thinking about, why you smile suddenly, why you are looking sad. . . How carefully she will look after you! She will never allow you to be tired, to sit in a draught, to neglect your food. If you are an hour late, she will be terrified. She will think you are killed, or that some siren has caught you. . . And, by the way, since there are always sirens, if by any chance you should, later on, slip a little, you need not worry. She will forgive you, in the end. She will be terribly hurt, of course, but she will forgive you-in the end. She would never divorce you. Oh, no! And, of course, she will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for-uneasiness."
Alan buys the love potion believing he will never return for a "chaser." When he says goodbye, the old man says, "Au revoir," which means, "I'll be seeing you."
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