Book excerpt: The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar By Maurice Leblanc Maurice Leblanc, a contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, created the character of Arsène Lupin, who in French-speaking countries rivaled the popularity of Sherlock Holmes. Arsène Lupin is a confidence man and thief who steals only from the rich. In this collection of short stories we are first introduced to Lupin in the following nine stories: "The Arrest of Arsène Lupin," "Arsène Lupin in Prison," "The Escape of Arsène Lupin," "The Mysterious Traveller," "The Queen's Necklace," "The Seven of Hearts," "Madame Imbert's Safe," "The Black Pearl," and "Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late."