# VII: Parbury-Ribeira-Altenheim explained — 813

> Chapter companion for 813 by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Prince Sernine (Arsène Lupin) confronts Baron Altenheim, who is revealed to also go by the names Ribeira and Parbury. Altenheim proposes a partnership to pursue the Kesselbach case, offering Steinweg as leverage, but Sernine refuses, asserting his independence and superiority. Altenheim attempts to poison Sernine during lunch, but Sernine detects the plot, forces Altenheim to back down, and eats the poisoned cake himself to prove his invulnerability. The two then engage in a tense social dance, meeting daily while secretly plotting each other's downfall.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Truth

Both Lupin and Altenheim operate under multiple aliases (Sernine, Parbury, Ribeira), and an anonymous letter exposes Lupin's true identity, highlighting the constant interplay of disguise and revelation.

### Power and Ambition

Lupin refuses partnership, asserting his dominance and desire to control the Kesselbach case alone, while Altenheim's proposal reveals his own ambition to secure the prize.

### Revenge and Retribution

The chapter sets up a deadly rivalry where each man seeks to destroy the other, with Lupin vowing to deliver the criminals to justice and Altenheim plotting murder.

## Character check-ins

### Arsène Lupin

Operating as Prince Sernine, he refuses Altenheim's partnership offer, detects and survives a poisoning attempt, and engages in a deadly cat-and-mouse game.

### Baron Altenheim

Also known as Ribeira and Parbury, he proposes a partnership to Lupin, attempts to poison him, and then socializes with him while plotting his murder.

### Steinweg

Mentioned as a key asset held by Altenheim, who claims Steinweg can reveal the truth about Pierre Leduc and the Kesselbach plan.

### M. Weber

Receives an anonymous letter revealing that Prince Sernine is Arsène Lupin, and plans to take two hundred men to arrest him.

### Valenglay

Present when Weber reveals the letter exposing Lupin's identity, and stands amazed at the turn of events.

## Key lines

> I think, on the contrary, that two men like ourselves are not made to understand each other.

Lupin rejects Altenheim's overture for cooperation, asserting their fundamental incompatibility.

_Highlights Lupin's refusal to collaborate and his view of Altenheim as an adversary._

> Eat that!

Lupin forces Altenheim to share the poisoned cake, demonstrating his fearlessness and turning the tables.

_Key moment showing Lupin's dominance and Altenheim's cowardice._

> This time, our friend Lupin has found an adversary who is a match for him.

Weber comments that Lupin's opponent has successfully exposed him, leveling the playing field.

_Foreshadows the escalating conflict between Lupin and his enemies._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/813_se/chapters/vii-parbury-ribeira-altenheim
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/813_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/813_se/chapters