# V: “We Will Help You” explained — The Secret Tomb

> Chapter companion for The Secret Tomb by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Dorothy confronts d'Estreicher, who proposes a partnership and threatens her with the cardboard box containing the earrings. She rejects him and later, with Saint-Quentin, breaks into the château to retrieve the earrings from the box. The Count reveals to Dorothy that her father may have been poisoned, based on a feverish letter describing a tattooed arm with the words 'In robore fortuna.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Treasure and Legacy

D'Estreicher tempts Dorothy with 'fabulous wealth' and 'boundless power,' and the letter reveals a medal with the motto 'In robore fortuna.'

### Good Versus Evil

Dorothy's moral rejection of d'Estreicher's partnership and the revelation of her father's possible murder highlight the conflict between integrity and greed.

### Resilience and Courage

Dorothy bravely faces d'Estreicher, leads a dangerous nighttime raid, and confronts the truth about her father's death.

## Character check-ins

### Dorothy

Rejects d'Estreicher's partnership, leads a nighttime raid to retrieve earrings, and learns of her father's possible murder.

### D'Estreicher

Proposes partnership to Dorothy, threatens her with the cardboard box, and is drugged by Dorothy's powder.

### Baron Saint-Quentin

Assists Dorothy in the raid, climbs through transoms, and retrieves the earrings from the box.

### Chagny-Roborey

Reveals to Dorothy the letter about her father's death and the tattooed arm.

## Key lines

> It means a fortune, the discovery of fabulous wealth, boundless power.⁠ ⁠… Will you?

D'Estreicher offers Dorothy a partnership promising immense wealth and power.

_D'Estreicher's proposal to Dorothy._

> I saw on the naked arm⁠ ⁠… above the elbow⁠ ⁠… words written⁠ — Three words written⁠ ⁠… tattooed⁠ ⁠… as sailors do⁠ ⁠… three words⁠ ⁠… Good God!⁠ ⁠… these three words! The words on the medal!⁠ ⁠… In robore fortuna!

Dorothy reads her father's letter describing a tattooed arm with the words 'In robore fortuna.'

_The letter reveals the connection between the tattoo and the medal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/v-we-will-help-you
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_tomb_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters