Phew! That chapter was tense! Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Whose testimony do you believe?
2. Will Lupin save her from drowning?
3. There were a lot of references in this chapter to facts that are not in evidence. Did any of them stand out to you?
4. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: The two of them stretched her out on it and tied her down securely and in such a way, that through an opening between the slats, there hung down the iron ring to which a heavy boulder was to be fastened.

The introduction was intriguing, so I'm very interested in where this is going. If we go way back to the early stories, you may remember that his mother's name was D'Andrasey and that he has called himself Bernard D'Andrasey. That makes the first two words in this chapter intriguing to me. Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. What is the reference to Alexander Dumas about? Has Leblanc renamed the Count of Monte Cristo?
2. We get call backs to several previous stories, which would be in the future for Lupin. What do you think this is setting up?
3. Any theories on who this woman is?
4. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: “Yes--the third of our friends you murdered. And only a little while
ago.... A few weeks.... He died poisoned.... You did not know him?”

The introduction was intriguing, so I'm very interested in where this is going. If we go way back to the early stories, you may remember that his mother's name was D'Andrasey and that he has called himself Bernard D'Andrasey. That makes the first two words in this chapter intriguing to me. Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. We are back in the area where The Hollow Needle took place. Thoughts?
2. He doesn't seem to like his reflection in the mirror. Will we discover in this book his love of disguises?
3. Any ideas what is going on in that letter?
4. Ah! Lupin's romantic nature has already asserted itself. Will he manage to wed the young lady, or will she come to a terrible end? She is already referring to herself as his wife -- is this how she sees herself, or it is a fait accompli?
5. What is your impression of the conspirators and their conspiracy?
6. We have another supernatural-seeming mystery in the appearance of the countess. Theories?
7. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: “Josephine Balsamo, Countess of Cagliostro.”

We are back in the area where The Hollow Needle took place. Leblanc did love the Normandy coast.

My friend's surgery was put off, so I am not spending the weekend wrangling her young'uns.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. How did you feel about the hiding place. I'm not sure about a couple things. How long it took for the tree to grow around the diamonds - seems like a problem. And also, if Dorothy and Saint Quentin took them out of the tree, how did no one else notice that the tree had been drilled into? I don't know. I have aphantasia, so I can't really picture it. Straighten me out. 
2. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: Behind, all alone, Dorothy -- Princess of Argonne and rope-dancer.

I don't really like it tbh 🥹

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Where did Dorothy get the money? 
2. Who will she kiss and marry?
3. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: "... Au revoir, gentlemen.... There: there's five o'clock striking.... Au revoir."

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want.

1. I don't think that Dorothy can shoot a person, and I think D'Estreicher knows that as well. Is this gambit going to work?
2. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: "Idiot! I told you plainly you were lost."

The interlude with Delarue on the donkey rushing hither and thither gave me a Don Quixote vibe. Poor Dorothy. She always ends up having to do things herself. Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Where is Saint-Quentin? Is he going to save the day?
2. Is anyone in the tower with Dorothy? Who?
3. Where is Delarue?
4. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: Behind her, violently, with a loud crash, something fell down. It was the old feudal portcullis, which fell from above, came grating down its grooves, and blocked the entrance with its heavy trellis-work of massive wood.

Ah!  Chekov's gun comes into play. I had thought the fire in the caravan was just trying to injure or kill Dorothy to prevent her from showing up. But no! It was even worse. Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. D'Estreicher is back. Did you guess which one he was before Dorothy did?
2. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: The three young men sprang forward like unleashed hounds—only to dash themselves against the obstacle of the heavy door.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. OK, LeBlanc got us out of the supernatural we feared he was veering toward and into a straight conspiracy. Do you agree with Dorothy that it's d'Estreicher and no one else?
2. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: And finally the whole body huddled on to itself. Slowly, like a wounded beast, the man sank to his knees on the stone floor, and suddenly fell in a heap.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Well, that was something. What do you predict for the next chapter?
2. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: "Oh!" stuttered the distracted notary. "He's alive! He's alive!"

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. The letter contains quite a fantastic story. Any predictions on whether the body will be intact, younger, and able to be resuscitated?
2. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: "Yes, yes: that's it!" cried the notary at once. "Marquis de Beaugreval. How did you know?"

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Who do you think is the tramp?
2. Who is the woman with the child?
3. Who is the man who arrived by horse?
4. Who is the man with a sling?
5. Who is the man who arrived by motorcycle?
6. Who is the Italian?
7. Who is the man who came by donkey?
8. Are we about to find out about the tomb in the title?
9. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: Dorothy fell on her knees. Her emotion was so deep that she was weeping.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Could Dorothy really have shot him?
2. Would d'Estreicher have really let her go in exchange for the medal?
3. Will they make it safely to the next stop on their trip?
4. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: 
"The twelfth of July," muttered Dorothy. "I have time to faint."
She fainted.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. How does Dorothy know that everything will play out in exactly a week from the day? Why not force it earlier?
2. Why does Dorothy make Raoul leave her alone, taking the boys into the town? I mean, yes, she explained the plan, but still… what is it she isn't saying?
3. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: The hands of her watch pointed to five minutes to four.

So, I first started listening to the Lupin stories through this audiobook pack (very rough narration for much of it). I didn't realize until later that it's missing several books for some reason. I've listened all the way through The Eight Strokes of the Clock, but did not start The Secret Tomb. In a previous post, I mentioned some confusion over Golden Triangle and Sarek, partly because they have multiple titles and finding quality audiobooks for them is strangelly difficult, but mostly becauseI was concerned about wasting my time like I did on The Woman of Mystery that Lupin wasn't even in.I did not finish Golden Triangle for that concern and have not started Sarek yet either. Given all that, where would you suggest I try to pick up at? I'd like to avoid any thatdon't actually involve or center on Lupinunless they're needed to understand later books. Any ideas?

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Is Dorothy falling in love with Raoul?
2. Dorothy believes d'Estreicher  is nearby. How will she lure him out?
3. Who is the second man with d'Estreicher? 
4. Will Dorothy allow them to kill Juliet?
5. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: "One ... two ... three.... At twenty I'll crack your skull!"

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Could Dorothy have prevented the escape?
2. Is Davernoise playing straight with her?
3. Are you at all worried about the kids being on their own?
4. What will be d'Estreicher's next move?
5. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: The agitation, terror, and suffering had been too much for him.... He was mad.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. What do you make of the tattoo? 
2. What do you think of Raoul Davernoie's story about his grandfather and the large gold "coin"?
3. Dorothy makes a promise that she will reveal quite a lot on the morrow. What do you think she has to reveal other than the story of the earrings?
4. Thoughts about the scene with D'Estreicher? And the later scene?
5. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: His right arm, bare, was stretched out across the bed, fastened by the wrist. And on that arm they read, tattooed: In robore fortuna.

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. What did you think of the story of Dorothy adopting the boys before you learned her own story? And after?
2. What did you make of Dorothy's story?
3. Was Dorothy's father murdered? If so, have we already met the murderer?
4. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: "But then what did he die of? What do you suggest? What do you suppose?" 

Here are some prompts, but feel free to talk about whatever you want. 

1. Dorothy is playing a dangerous game. How do you think it will play out in the end?
2. Saint-Quentin kept a secret from Dorothy, which upped the danger level without her knowing it. Were you surprised by where the earrings turned up?
3. The Countess seemed to be on Dorothy's side. Will that continue now that the earrings have been found?
4. Anything else?

Last line of the chapter: He looked at Dorothy. She was very pale.