# XVIII: Siméon’s Last Victim explained — The Golden Triangle

> Chapter companion for The Golden Triangle by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

In a tense confrontation, Siméon (revealed to be Essarès Bey) taunts Patrice by declaring Coralie dead, but Don Luis calmly reveals she is alive and sleeping in the next room. Don Luis then exposes Siméon as the sole criminal who murdered Patrice's father, Armand Belval. Patrice prepares to execute him but hesitates; Don Luis forces Siméon to turn the revolver on himself, leading to his suicide.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Revenge

Patrice and Don Luis act as judge, jury, and executioner, forcing Siméon to kill himself as retribution for his crimes.

### Deception and Hidden Identities

Siméon is revealed to be Essarès Bey, the true criminal behind all the murders and the kidnapping of Coralie.

### Love and Sacrifice

Patrice's love for Coralie drives his actions; Don Luis saves her life, enabling their future union.

## Character check-ins

### Patrice Belval

Overwhelmed with rage and grief, then joy upon learning Coralie is alive; learns that Siméon killed his father.

### Coralie

Revealed to be alive and asleep in the next room, recovering from exhaustion and a fever.

### Don Luis Perenna

Calmly orchestrates the revelation of Coralie's survival and Siméon's true identity; forces Siméon to commit suicide.

### Siméon Diodokis

Revealed to be Essarès Bey; confesses to murdering Armand Belval and burying Coralie; commits suicide by revolver.

### Essarès Bey

Identical to Siméon; the mastermind behind all crimes, including the murder of Patrice's father.

### Arsène Lupin

Acts as judge and executioner, forcing Siméon to take his own life.

## Key lines

> She is lost, Patrice! Lost! There’s nothing to be done! And you will not find even her body in the bowels of the earth, where I buried her with the bags of gold.

Siméon taunts Patrice that Coralie is dead and buried with the gold, beyond recovery.

_Siméon's false claim of Coralie's death to torment Patrice._

> Don’t shout so, you’ll wake her,

Don Luis calmly tells Siméon to be quiet because Coralie is merely asleep.

_Don Luis reveals Coralie is alive with a witty remark._

> He killed that man; and that man was your father, Patrice; he was Armand Belval!

Don Luis reveals that Siméon murdered Patrice's father, Armand Belval.

_Climactic revelation of Siméon's ultimate crime._

> Captain Patrice Belval, Arsène Lupin and old Siméon will form the court. Let the trial begin.

Don Luis declares a mock trial with Patrice, himself, and Siméon as judges.

_Don Luis stages a summary judgment against Essarès._

> You want to die and you are right. I won’t prevent you.

Don Luis tells Siméon that suicide is the appropriate end for him.

_Don Luis forces Siméon to take his own life._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_triangle_se/chapters/xviii-sim-on-s-last-victim
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_triangle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_golden_triangle_se/chapters