As wounded veterans face new dangers and old grudges, it will take a gentleman thief to save the day, in this mystery set in WWI Paris. Capt. Patrice Beval knows very little about Coralie, the volunteer nurse who saved his life. All he knows is that he loves her—and that her life is in danger. With the help of his fellow injured veterans, he vows to keep her safe. But who will protect him from men who will stop at nothing to get what they want? And what has happened to the great Gentleman Burglar, Arsène Lupin? Making his triumphant return, Lupin is called upon to solve the disappearance of three hundred million Francs in gold and the murder of a Moroccan man. As his investigation leads him to Captain Beval and Coralie, Lupin concocts an audacious plan to protect the innocent, catch the culprit—and find the loot!

モーリス・ルブランが描く本作の真骨頂は、大戦下の陰鬱な空気感とアルセーヌ・ルパンの鮮烈な輝きが成すコントラストにあります。負傷兵パトリスの献身と謎の看護師を巡る愛執は、国家の陰謀という濁流に呑み込まれながらも気高く、単なる冒険活劇を超えた重厚な抒情詩としての風格を漂わせています。 映像化作品では黄金を巡るスリルが強調されますが、原作には登場人物の切実な内面描写や、ルパンが救世主として降臨する瞬間の圧倒的な神々しさが宿っています。映像の躍動感と活字が持つ心理的深層、その両方を往復することで物語の真の熱量に触れることができるでしょう。