# Treasure and Legacy in The Secret Tomb

> Theme guide for The Secret Tomb by Maurice Leblanc.

The central plot revolves around a hidden treasure of diamonds and gold medals passed down through generations, with characters driven by the promise of inherited wealth and the need to uncover family secrets.

## Where it surfaces

- [V: “We Will Help You”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/v-we-will-help-you): D'Estreicher tempts Dorothy with 'fabulous wealth' and 'boundless power,' and the letter reveals a medal with the motto 'In robore fortuna.'
- [VII: The Hour Draws Near](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/vii-the-hour-draws-near): The gold medal and the promised riches are central to the plot, with the manor's fate tied to a financial deadline and the family's legendary treasure.
- [VIII: On the Iron Wire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/viii-on-the-iron-wire): The search for the medal and the hidden stone inscription 'In robore fortuna' tie directly to the treasure and legacy theme.
- [X: Towards the Golden Fleece](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/x-towards-the-golden-fleece): The motto 'In robore fortuna' and the inherited instructions drive characters toward a hidden fortune.
- [XI: The Will of the Marquis de Beaugreval](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/xi-the-will-of-the-marquis-de-beaugreval): The Marquis's will and gold medals represent a legacy spanning centuries, with the promise of resurrection as the ultimate treasure.
- [XII: The Elixir of Resurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/xii-the-elixir-of-resurrection): The Marquis's will and the hidden diamonds drive the quest; the discovery of his preserved body fulfills the legacy he orchestrated across centuries.
- [XVII: The Secret Perishes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/xvii-the-secret-perishes): The Beaugreval treasure is used to save the family estate, fulfilling the legacy while the diamonds remain hidden.
- [XVIII: In Robore Fortuna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/chapters/xviii-in-robore-fortuna): Dorothy solves the riddle of the treasure's hiding place, and the chapter revolves around the inheritance and rightful ownership of the diamonds.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/themes/treasure_and_legacy
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_tomb_se/themes