# XVI: The Last Quarter of a Minute explained — The Secret Tomb

> Chapter companion for The Secret Tomb by Maurice Leblanc.

## What happens

Dorothy is captured by d'Estreicher in the ruins of the great tower. She remains defiant and cool-headed despite being surrounded by his henchmen and seeing her friends—Errington, Webster, Dario, Maître Delarue, and Montfaucon—held prisoner. D'Estreicher demands the envelope containing the diamond document, threatening Montfaucon's life. Dorothy resists his physical and psychological assault, and at the critical moment, she spots Saint-Quentin's rifle barrel through a loophole. She uses her composure and the motto 'In robore fortuna' to disconcert d'Estreicher, buying time for the threat to take effect.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resilience and Courage

Dorothy's unshakable coolness and defiance in the face of capture and physical threat exemplify her resilience and courage.

### Intelligence and Intuition

Dorothy uses her quick wit and the motto 'In robore fortuna' to disconcert d'Estreicher, relying on her intelligence to turn the tide.

### Good Versus Evil

The confrontation between Dorothy and the villainous d'Estreicher highlights the struggle between good and evil.

## Character check-ins

### Dorothy

Captured by d'Estreicher, she maintains her coolness and defiance, using her intelligence and the motto 'In robore fortuna' to unsettle her enemy.

### D'Estreicher

Triumphant but uneasy, he attempts to force Dorothy to surrender the envelope and physically assaults her, but is disconcerted by her composure.

### Archibald Webster

One of Dorothy's friends, captured and bound in a cell with Errington and Dario.

### George Errington

Captured and bound alongside Webster and Dario, guarded by d'Estreicher's men.

### Marco Dario

Captured and bound with the other friends, held prisoner in the donjon.

### Maître Delarue

Captured after being forced down from a tree with a bullet through his hat, held with Montfaucon.

## Key lines

> She had only herself to rely on. In the lists formed by the ruins of the great tower, surrounded by a band of scoundrels, commanded by the most implacable of chiefs, watched, coveted, helpless, she had as her unique resource, her subtle intelligence.

Dorothy realized she was completely alone, trapped in the tower ruins with no allies, and her only weapon was her sharp mind.

_Highlights Dorothy's isolation and reliance on her intellect._

> To hold out to the end! she thought stubbornly. … To the end. … And not till the last quarter of an hour … but till the last quarter of the last minute.

She resolved to endure until the very last moment, not just the final fifteen minutes but the final fifteen seconds.

_Shows Dorothy's determination to resist until the absolute end._

> In robore fortuna, she thought. But that thought she unconsciously uttered in a low voice, as one utters a prayer for protection. And at once she felt her adversary’s grip relax.

She whispered the motto 'In robore fortuna' like a prayer, and it immediately made d'Estreicher hesitate.

_The motto disconcerts d'Estreicher, giving Dorothy a crucial advantage._

## Links

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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters