# Arsène Lupin — The Hollow Needle character guide > Arsène Lupin in The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lupin, Mme. Arsène Lupin, Arsène Lupin **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-shot ## Snapshot The gentleman burglar whose genius alone cannot explain his impunity, until the Hollow Needle gives him a treasury, a fortress, and a secret older than France. ## Who they are Lupin moves through the story as a myth that reality cannot account for, a man whose infinite resources still require a sure retreat and the certainty of impunity. The Needle supplies both: a royal strongroom of Merovingian gold, crown-pieces, and stolen masterpieces, rebuilt by his own hands when he found its tunnel collapsing into the sea. Without it he is a character in a novel; with it he becomes simply a man wielding an extraordinary weapon, and the mystery of his power becomes the mystery of the book. ## Relationships ### [Isidore Beautrelet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/isidore_beautrelet) _rivalry_ A brilliant cat-and-mouse game where Lupin respects Beautrelet's intellect as his most formidable adversary. ### [Raymonde de Saint-Véran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/raymonde_de_saint_veran) _romantic_ Lupin is deeply in love with Raymonde and seeks to win her heart, though she is initially unaware of his true identity. ### [Mme. de Villemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/mme_de_villemon) _psychological_ Lupin manipulates Mme. de Villemon, using her as a pawn in his schemes while she remains infatuated with him. ### [Holmlock Shears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/holmlock_shears) _rivalry_ Lupin and Shears engage in a legendary intellectual duel, each trying to outsmart the other. ### [Mlle. de Saint-Véran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/mlle_de_saint_veran) _psychological_ Lupin manipulates Mlle. de Saint-Véran as part of his elaborate deceptions. ### [M. Massiban](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/m_massiban) _professional_ Lupin interacts with Massiban, using the archivist's knowledge to further his own plans. ### [Isidore Beautrelet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/isidore_beautrelet) _rivalry_ A brilliant cat-and-mouse game where Lupin respects Beautrelet's intellect as his most formidable adversary. ### [Isidore Beautrelet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/isidore_beautrelet) _rivalry_ A brilliant cat-and-mouse game where Lupin respects Beautrelet's intellect as his most formidable adversary. ### [Raymonde de Saint-Véran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/raymonde_de_saint_veran) _romantic_ Lupin is deeply in love with Raymonde and seeks to win her heart, though she is initially unaware of his true identity. ### [M. Massiban](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/m_massiban) _professional_ Lupin interacts with Massiban, using the archivist's knowledge to further his own plans. ### [Mme. de Villemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/mme_de_villemon) _psychological_ Lupin manipulates Mme. de Villemon, using her as a pawn in his schemes while she remains infatuated with him. ### [Raymonde de Saint-Véran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/raymonde_de_saint_veran) _romantic_ Lupin is deeply in love with Raymonde and seeks to win her heart, though she is initially unaware of his true identity. ## In the story ### [II: Isidore Beautrelet, Sixth-Form Schoolboy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/ii-isidore-beautrelet-sixth-form-schoolboy) Referenced as the master criminal; believed by some to be wounded or dead, but his confederates are active. ### [The Corpse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/iii-the-corpse) Presumed dead; his body is believed to be in the crypt beneath the chapel. ### [IV: Face to Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/iv-face-to-face) Alive and free, he confronts Beautrelet, attempting to force him to retract his article to maintain the illusion of his death. ### [On the Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/v-on-the-track) Writes a letter to the press confessing his love for Mlle. de Saint-Véran and seeking peace, while also revealing his role in the Harlington affair. ### [VI: An Historic Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/vi-an-historic-secret) Revealed as the decipherer of the ancient document and heir to the royal secret; his love letters to Raymonde are made public. ### [VII: The Treatise of the Needle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/vii-the-treatise-of-the-needle) 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. ### [From Caesar to Lupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/viii-from-caesar-to-lupin) Referenced as having taken ten days to solve the mystery; his boast influences Beautrelet's strategy. ### [IX: Open, Sesame!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/ix-open-sesame) Implied to have used the Hollow Needle as his stronghold and treasure vault. His men are seen moving packages out at night, suggesting he may have already fled. ### [X: The Treasures of the Kings of France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/x-the-treasures-of-the-kings-of-france) Reveals himself as Valméras, explains his marriage to Raymonde, and shows Beautrelet the treasure chambers and jewel chest. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced as the central figure in the cited works by Maurice Leblanc. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/arsene_lupin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters