# Isidore Beautrelet — The Hollow Needle character guide > Isidore Beautrelet in The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc. **Role:** major **Also known as:** M. Isidore Beautrelet, Beautrelet, young Isidore Beautrelet, young Beautrelet, M. Beautrelet, poor Isidore Beautrelet, Monsieur Isidore Beautrelet **First appearance:** 0001-ii-isidore-beautrelet-sixth-form-schoolboy ## Snapshot A sixth-form schoolboy whose schoolfellows rank him beside Holmlock Shears, he treats a country-house theft as a problem in pure reasoning. ## Who they are Beautrelet is a Lycée Janson-de-Sailly pupil, industrious and of exemplary behavior, whose reputation as an observer whom nothing escapes has reached the examining magistrate before he ever appears in the case. He carries himself with a bow to Ganimard as to a colleague, yet answers questions with disarming humility, insisting he knows nothing while quietly producing the one precise point everyone else missed. His gift is deduction stripped of extraneous comment, and it is this that turns a baffling burglary into a thread leading toward the Hollow Needle. ## Relationships ### [Arsène Lupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/arsene_lupin) _rivalry_ A brilliant cat-and-mouse game where Lupin respects Beautrelet's intellect as his most formidable adversary. ### [M. Filleul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/m_filleul) _professional_ Beautrelet assists the local magistrate Filleul in the investigation of Lupin's crimes. ### [M. Massiban](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/m_massiban) _professional_ Massiban, an archivist, collaborates with Beautrelet by providing historical clues about the Hollow Needle. ### [Mme. de Villemon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/mme_de_villemon) _social_ Beautrelet interacts with Mme. de Villemon during the investigation, treating her as a witness and suspect. ### [Comte de Gesvres](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/comte_de_gesvres) _professional_ The Comte de Gesvres, as a victim of Lupin's theft, cooperates with Beautrelet in the investigation. ### [Raymonde de Saint-Véran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/raymonde_de_saint_veran) _friendship_ Beautrelet develops a friendly rapport with Raymonde, protecting her from Lupin's schemes. ### [Mlle. de Saint-Véran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/mlle_de_saint_veran) _social_ Beautrelet encounters Mlle. de Saint-Véran as a member of the household involved in the mystery. ### [Froberval](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/froberval) _professional_ Froberval, a local guide, assists Beautrelet in navigating the terrain around the Hollow Needle. ### [Baron Anfredi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/baron_anfredi) _rivalry_ Baron Anfredi, a disguised Lupin, competes directly with Beautrelet in the hunt for the secret. ### [M. Brédoux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/m_bredoux) _professional_ M. Brédoux, a police officer, works with Beautrelet on the case. ### [Holmlock Shears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/holmlock_shears) _friendship_ Shears and Beautrelet share mutual respect and collaborate as fellow detectives against Lupin. ### [M. Filleul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/m_filleul) _professional_ Beautrelet assists the local magistrate Filleul in the investigation of Lupin's crimes. ## In the story ### [The Shot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/i-the-shot) A young student disguised as a reporter; claims to know the murderer's name and the stolen objects. ### [II: Isidore Beautrelet, Sixth-Form Schoolboy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/ii-isidore-beautrelet-sixth-form-schoolboy) The sixth-form schoolboy detective; travels to Dieppe, receives a threat, examines the crime scene, and later is captured and released by the magistrate. ### [The Corpse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/iii-the-corpse) Reveals the chapel statues are plaster casts, deduces the crypt's existence, and leads the descent. ### [IV: Face to Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/iv-face-to-face) Recovering from his wound, he confronts Lupin and reveals his plan to publish the truth about Lupin's survival. ### [On the Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/v-on-the-track) The young detective, stunned by his father's kidnapping, travels to Cherbourg and begins investigating, following Gaffer Charel and a mysterious watcher. ### [VI: An Historic Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/vi-an-historic-secret) Weeps in humiliation after reading Lupin's letter revealing the historic secret and his own defeat. ### [VII: The Treatise of the Needle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/vii-the-treatise-of-the-needle) 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. ### [From Caesar to Lupin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/viii-from-caesar-to-lupin) Deduces that the secret of the Hollow Needle is tied to Normandy and the Cauchois triangle; retraces Lupin's steps along the Seine. ### [IX: Open, Sesame!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/chapters/ix-open-sesame) Discovers the secret of the Hollow Needle, locates the hidden entrance, and observes Lupin's men moving goods. Plans the assault with Ganimard, though he fears Lupin may have already escaped. ### [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) Brought to the Needle, he is stunned to discover that Valméras is Lupin; he witnesses the treasure and Lupin's farewell. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters/isidore_beautrelet - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hollow_needle_se/characters