# The Infernal Trap explained — The Confessions of Arsène Lupin

> Chapter companion for The Confessions of Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Lupin is captured by Mme. Dugrival and her nephew Gabriel, who have set an elaborate trap to avenge Dugrival's death and extort money from him. Mme. Dugrival reveals how she discovered Lupin's identity through the stolen banknotes and forces him to sign four cheques under different aliases.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Identity

Lupin is trapped through a web of lies and disguises; Mme. Dugrival uses multiple aliases and a fabricated story to ensnare him.

### Crime and Punishment

Mme. Dugrival seeks revenge for her husband's death and uses criminal methods to extort money from Lupin.

### Wealth and Greed

The entire plot revolves around stolen money, extortion, and the desire for financial gain.

## Character check-ins

### Arsène Lupin

Captured and tied up by Mme. Dugrival and Gabriel; forced to sign cheques under duress.

### Mme. Dugrival

Widow of Nicolas Dugrival; masterminds the trap to capture Lupin and extort money.

### Gabriel

Nephew of Mme. Dugrival; helps set the trap and is left to guard Lupin with a revolver.

### Nicolas Dugrival

Deceased husband of Mme. Dugrival; his suicide and stolen money are the motives for the trap.

## Key lines

> Brrrrr! ” said the prisoner. “We might be at the Ambigu!⁠ ⁠… Fourth act: the Traitor’s Doom. And the fair sex to do the deed.⁠ ⁠… The hand of the Graces.⁠ ⁠… What an honour!⁠ ⁠… Mme. Dugrival, I rely on you not to disfigure me.”

Lupin jokes that the situation feels like a melodramatic play, with Mme. Dugrival as the executioner.

_Lupin uses sarcasm to mask his fear and maintain his composure._

> You were bound to come, for swagger, out of vanity! And you come!”

Mme. Dugrival explains that Lupin's vanity and love of mystery made him predictable.

_She reveals the psychological trap based on Lupin's known character traits._

> I have filled in each of them for ten thousand francs. A larger figure would have been too risky. And, now, sign.”

Mme. Dugrival forces Lupin to sign four cheques for ten thousand francs each, using different signatures.

_She has prepared cheques from Lupin's own accounts to extort money without raising suspicion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_confessions_of_ars_ne_lupin_se/chapters/iv-the-infernal-trap
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_confessions_of_ars_ne_lupin_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_confessions_of_ars_ne_lupin_se/chapters