# VII: The Treatise of the Needle explained — The Hollow Needle

> Chapter companion for The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Isidore Beautrelet, determined to continue his war against Arsène Lupin, re-examines the mystery of the Hollow Needle. He investigates the murder of a captain of the guards and traces the lineage of M. de Larbeyrie. With the help of M. Massiban, he learns of a suppressed passage by Voltaire linking Louis XIV to the affair. Beautrelet then visits the Musée Carnavalet, where he discovers Marie Antoinette's book of hours. Inside, he finds a note from the queen to Fersen, dated 16 October 1793, but also signed by Arsène Lupin, confirming that Lupin had already taken the crucial document. Despite this setback, Beautrelet remains confident that the secret can be uncovered.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hidden History and Secrets

The chapter revolves around uncovering the secret of the Hollow Needle, involving suppressed manuscripts, royal documents, and a centuries-old mystery.

### Intellect and Cunning

Beautrelet uses deduction, historical research, and persistence to piece together clues, while Lupin's prior discovery of the document demonstrates his cunning.

### Treasure and Wealth

The mystery involves a hidden royal treasure, as evidenced by the magnificent jewel found on the murdered captain of the guards.

## Character check-ins

### Isidore Beautrelet

Resolves to continue his war against Lupin; investigates the murder of the captain of the guards and traces the Larbeyrie lineage; discovers Marie Antoinette's book of hours and the double signature.

### Arsène Lupin

Referred to as the adversary; his name appears alongside Marie Antoinette's signature in the book of hours, indicating he had already taken the document.

### M. Massiban

Provides Beautrelet with a passage from Voltaire's manuscript linking Louis XIV to the Larbeyrie affair.

### M. de Larbeyrie

Mentioned as the captain of the guards whose murder and stolen jewels are central to the mystery; his lineage is traced by Beautrelet.

### Raymonde de Saint-Véran

Briefly referenced as Beautrelet reconsiders the meaning of 'demoiselles' in the document.

### Mlle. de Saint-Véran

Mentioned alongside Raymonde as Beautrelet re-evaluates the document's clues.

## Key lines

> I draw this conclusion, my friends, that it be a good thing to advertise this story as much as possible, so that people may know, through all the papers, that we are looking for a book entitled The Treatise of the Needle.

Beautrelet suggests publicizing the search for the book 'The Treatise of the Needle' to increase the chances of finding it.

_Beautrelet's strategic use of media to gather information._

> To you, Fersen. For my son. 16 October, 1793. Marie Antoinette.

Marie Antoinette's note to Count Fersen, bequeathing the book of hours to her son on the day of her execution.

_The queen's desperate final message, discovered by Beautrelet._

> Arsène Lupin.

The signature of Arsène Lupin appears below Marie Antoinette's, indicating he had already taken the document.

_Lupin's signature confirms his prior possession of the crucial document._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/vii-the-treatise-of-the-needle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hollow_needle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters