Memoirs of Arsène Lupin · Chapter
XIII: The Strongbox of the Monks explained
Ralph and Beaumagnan are bound prisoners in the lighthouse, guarded by Leonard after Josephine's attack.
What happens
Ralph and Beaumagnan are bound prisoners in the lighthouse, guarded by Leonard after Josephine's attack. Clarice secretly enters, cuts Ralph's bonds, and helps him escape, but refuses to leave Beaumagnan. Ralph frees Beaumagnan, and they flee. Later, Ralph discovers that Josephine has already seized the treasure from the monks' strongbox. Beaumagnan, in despair, stabs himself with Josephine's dagger and dies, revealing that Clarice is not the Baron's daughter and making Ralph swear to marry her and recover the treasure.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Obsession
Ralph's love for Clarice and Josephine's obsessive love for Ralph drive the chapter's actions and conflicts.
Treasure and Greed
The monks' treasure is the central object of desire, leading to betrayal, theft, and Beaumagnan's suicide.
Revenge and Retribution
Ralph swears to take the treasure from Josephine and avenge Beaumagnan's death.
Characters to notice
- Ralph d'Andresy
Bound prisoner, freed by Clarice, escapes, later confronts the empty strongbox and swears vengeance.
- Josephine Balsamo
Strikes Ralph, suffers a nervous attack, orders Leonard to guard the prisoners, and secretly retrieves the treasure.
- Clarice d'Etigues
Sneaks into the lighthouse, cuts Ralph's bonds, refuses to abandon Beaumagnan, then flees from Ralph.
- Beaumagnan
Bound prisoner, freed, discovers the treasure gone, commits suicide by stabbing himself with Josephine's dagger.
- Leonard
Guards the prisoners, sets up an alarm with a chair and dagger, later fires a revolver.
- Baron Godfrey d'Etigues
Arrives with Beaumagnan, prays, and swears to obey Beaumagnan's wish for Clarice to marry Ralph.
Key passages
“woman slipped easily over the sill which was at no great height from the ground. Before he saw her face, Ralph knew that it was none other than Clarice!”
Clarice climbed through the window, and Ralph recognized her immediately.
Clarice's daring rescue of Ralph.
“She did not strike. Ralph bent forward a little so that the rope which ran through the back of the chair hung slack.”
Clarice hesitated to stab Leonard, and Ralph adjusted his position to help her cut his bonds.
Clarice's restraint and Ralph's cooperation.
“He drew himself to his full height, always theatrical and romantic in his most natural attitudes, gazed round him with dolorous eyes, then, of a sudden, crossed himself, and drove into his breast the blade of a dagger—of the dagger which belonged to Josephine Balsamo.”
Beaumagnan dramatically stabbed himself with Josephine's dagger.
Beaumagnan's suicide in despair over the lost treasure.
“I swear to you that I will find her. I swear to you that I will take the treasure from her.”
Ralph vowed to recover the treasure and confront Josephine.
Ralph's oath of vengeance.