# The Corpse explained — The Hollow Needle

> Chapter companion for The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Isidore Beautrelet reveals that the chapel's statues and high altar are plaster casts, proving Lupin's gang stole the originals. He deduces the existence of a hidden crypt beneath the chapel where Lupin's body lies. After breaking through the altar, they discover the crypt and descend to find the corpse.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hidden History and Secrets

Beautrelet uncovers the secret crypt beneath the chapel, revealing Lupin's hidden lair and the true extent of the theft.

### Intellect and Cunning

Beautrelet's deduction about the plaster casts and the crypt demonstrates his sharp intellect, while Lupin's elaborate scheme to replace the chapel's art shows his cunning.

### Identity and Disguise

The plaster casts are a form of disguise, hiding the theft of the original statues and the crypt's entrance.

## Character check-ins

### Isidore Beautrelet

Reveals the chapel statues are plaster casts, deduces the crypt's existence, and leads the descent.

### M. Filleul

Examining magistrate who accompanies Beautrelet and the Comte de Gesvres into the crypt.

### Comte de Gesvres

Owner of the château, provides the key and pickaxe, and descends into the crypt.

### Arsène Lupin

Presumed dead; his body is believed to be in the crypt beneath the chapel.

### M. Brédoux

Clerk to the examining magistrate who attacks and wounds Beautrelet, stealing the document.

### Raymonde de Saint-Véran

Mentioned as having shot Lupin before her own death.

## Key lines

> Beautrelet was carrying a walking-stick, a strong, knotted stick. Suddenly, with a back stroke of this stick, he smashed one of the little statues that adorned the front of the chapel.

Beautrelet uses his walking stick to shatter a chapel statue, revealing it to be plaster.

_Demonstrates the statues are fakes._

> A whole Gothic chapel collected stone by stone! A whole population of statues captured and replaced by these chaps in stucco!

The entire Gothic chapel and its statues were stolen and replaced with plaster copies.

_Highlights the scale of Lupin's theft._

> I conclude that Lupin discovered the crypt when working at the altar.

Beautrelet deduces that Lupin found the crypt while replacing the altar.

_Key deduction leading to the crypt's discovery._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/iii-the-corpse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hollow_needle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters