29 chapters
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29 chapters
AUTHORS OF "FANTÔMAS," "THE EXPLOITS OF JUVE," ETC.
AUTHORS OF "FANTÔMAS," "THE EXPLOITS OF JUVE," ETC.
I. The Drama of the Rue Norvins II. Thomery's Two Loves III. Unexpected Complications IV. A Surprising Itinerary V. Mother Toulouche and Cranajour VI. In the Opposite Sense VII. Pearls and Diamonds VIII. End of the Ball IX. Finger Prints X. Identity of a Navvy XI. An Audacious Theft XII. Investigations XIII. Rue Raffet XIV. Someone Telephoned XV. Vague Suspicions XVI. Discussions XVII. An Arrest XVIII. At the Bottom of the Trunk XIX. Criminal or Victim? XX. Under the Hooded Mask XXI. In a Prison
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THE DRAMA OF THE RUE NORVINS
THE DRAMA OF THE RUE NORVINS
On Monday, April 4th, 19—, the evening paper La Capitale published the following article on its first page:— A drama, over the motives of which there is a bewildering host of conjectures, was unfolded this morning on the heights of Montmartre. The Baroness de Vibray, well known in the Parisian world and among artists, whose generous patroness she was, has been found dead in the studio of the ceramic painter, Jacques Dollon. The young painter, rendered completely helpless by a soporific, lay stre
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THOMERY'S TWO LOVES
THOMERY'S TWO LOVES
Two days before the sinister drama, details of which Jérôme Fandor had given in La Capitale , the smart little town house inhabited by the Baroness de Vibray, in the Avenue Henri-Martin, assumed a festive appearance. This did not surprise her neighbours, for they knew the owner of this charming residence was very much a woman of the world, whose reception-rooms were constantly opened to the many distinguished Parisians forming her circle of acquaintances. It was seven in the evening when the Bar
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UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS
UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS
At nine o'clock in the morning, the staff of that great evening paper, La Capitale , were assembled in the vast editorial room, writing out their copy, in the midst of a perfect hubbub of continual comings and goings, of regular shindies, of perpetual discussions. A stranger entering this room, which among its frequenters went by the name of "The Wild Beasts' Cage," might easily have thought he was witnessing some thirty schoolboys at play in recreation time, instead of being in the presence of
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A SURPRISING ITINERARY
A SURPRISING ITINERARY
Jérôme Fandor had passed a bad night! Visions of horror had continually arisen in his troubled mind. Between nightmare after nightmare he had heard all the horrors of the night sound out in the darkness and the glimmering dawn. Then he had fallen into a heavy sleep, which had left him on awaking broken with fatigue. He had given himself a cold douche, and this had calmed his nerves; then he had dressed quickly. When eight o'clock struck he was at his writing-table, thinking things over: "It's no
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MOTHER TOULOUCHE AND CRANAJOUR
MOTHER TOULOUCHE AND CRANAJOUR
"Come along, Cranajour! Let's have a sight of what they've given you for the frock coat and the whole outfit!" The person thus challenged rummaged in the pockets of his old, much-patched and filthy garments, and after interminable fumblings and huntings, finished by extracting a certain number of silver pieces, which he counted over with the greatest care, finally he replied: "Seventeen francs, Mother Toulouche." Mother Toulouche showed her impatience: "It's details I want! How much for the coat
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IN THE OPPOSITE SENSE
IN THE OPPOSITE SENSE
When Jérôme Fandor had been precipitated into the Seine so unexpectedly and with such violence he kept control of his wits: he did not utter a cry as he fell head foremost into the darkling river. He was an excellent swimmer: all aching as he was, he let himself go with the current and presently reached the sheltering arch of the Pont Neuf. There he took breath for a minute: "Queer!" was all he murmured. Then with regular strokes he made for the steep bank of the Seine opposite. Quitting the riv
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PEARLS AND DIAMONDS
PEARLS AND DIAMONDS
"Nadine!" "Princess!" "Nadine, what time is it?" The young Circassian, with hair as black as ink, souple and slender, rose from her chair and was hastening from the bedroom to ascertain the time when her mistress recalled her: "Don't go away, Nadine! Stay with me!" The dusky Circassian obeyed: she stared with big, astonished eyes into those of her mistress: "But, Princess, why don't you wish me to go?" The Princess stammered in a mysterious tone: "Don't you know then, Nadine, that to-day is the
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END OF THE BALL
END OF THE BALL
When Sonia Danidoff entered Thomery's ball-room she made a sensation. It was not far off midnight when she appeared in all her brilliant beauty and dazzling array, leaning on the arm of her host and fiancé, who bore his honours proudly. Dancers paused to admire this handsome couple; then the Hungarian band redoubled their efforts, and the whirling, eddying waltz started afresh, more gay, more inspiriting than before. In a corner opposite the musicians a group of persons were in animated talk: am
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FINGER PRINTS
FINGER PRINTS
After having interrogated all the witnesses of last night's tragedy he could get into touch with, Jérôme Fandor returned to the Palais de Justice. "All the same," he confessed to himself, "I must admit that, up to the present, I do not know anything very definite about it. This Princess Sonia Danidoff has managed to get robbed in a most extraordinary way. At one o'clock in the morning, Havard declares that the thief can be none other than one of the guests, and thereupon every person present has
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IDENTITY OF A NAVVY
IDENTITY OF A NAVVY
"The Barbey-Nanteuil bank is certainly gorgeous!" thought Jérôme Fandor as he traversed the hall on the ground floor, where the massive mahogany furniture, the thick carpets, the deep, comfortable chairs, the sober elegance of the window curtains breathed an atmosphere of luxury and good taste. "And decidedly banking is the best of businesses!" added our young journalist. An attendant advanced to meet him. "What do you want, monsieur?" "Will you take in my card to Monsieur Nanteuil? I should be
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AN AUDACIOUS THEFT
AN AUDACIOUS THEFT
Two hours after Juve had dictated his article to Fandor, our journalist was reading it, in proof, in the offices of La Capitale . His article ran thus: "By a fortunate coincidence we found ourselves, this very morning, in the directorial office of the Barbey-Nanteuil bank, chatting with Monsieur Barbey himself, when Monsieur Nanteuil arrived, breathless, and announced to his partner that a sensational robbery had just been committed in the rue du Quatre Septembre, a robbery involving a sum of tw
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INVESTIGATIONS
INVESTIGATIONS
A man jumped quickly out of the Auteuil-Madeleine tram. It would have been difficult to guess his age, or see his face. He wore a large soft hat—a Brazilian sombrero—whose edges he had turned down. The collar of his overcoat was turned up, so that the lower part of his face was so far buried in it that his features were almost hidden. Then, during the entire journey, seated at the end of the tramcar he had kept his back turned on the other passenger: he seemed to be absorbed in watching the move
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RUE RAFFET
RUE RAFFET
Maray, second reporter of La Capitale , shook hands with Fandor. "Are you in a good humour, dear boy?" "So—so...." "Ah! Well, here is something which will cheer you up, I'm sure!... Here's a letter from a lady for you.... I found it in my pigeon-hole by mistake!" Fandor smiled. "From a lady?... You must be mistaken!... How do you know it is?" "By the handwriting, the paper, and so on—I'm not mistaken—am I ever?..." Laughing, Maray threw down on Fandor's table a small envelope with a deep black b
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SOMEONE TELEPHONED
SOMEONE TELEPHONED
The nuns of the order of Saint Augustin were not expelled in consequence of the Decrees. This was a special favour, but one fully justified, because of the incalculable benefits this community conferred on suffering humanity. The vast convent of rue de la Glacière continues to serve as a shelter for these holy women, and as a sort of hospital for the sick. For close on a hundred years, generation after generation of those living near its walls have heard the convent clock sound the hours in sole
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VAGUE SUSPICIONS
VAGUE SUSPICIONS
Fandor was talking to himself—an inveterate habit of his—as he sat in the cab which was carrying him to the Palais de Justice. "Beyond question, I ought to have examined that paper they have stolen from Mademoiselle Elizabeth. I should have looked through it at the first opportunity. That sequence of names; those dates, which seem to almost coincide with the different criminal attempts, probably relate to the mysterious plan which the assassins are carrying out systematically.... But, that means
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DISCUSSIONS
DISCUSSIONS
The portress rang up Fandor on the telephone. "Monsieur Fandor! There is a stout little lady down here! She wants to see you! Should I let her go up?" Fandor's first impulse was to say "no." He glanced at the timepiece: it was exactly two minutes past eight and Juve might be here at any minute. He was sure to keep his appointment. After an instant's hesitation, Fandor decided on a "yes." He called down to the portress: "Let her come up!" Fandor had an idea: perhaps this person knew something abo
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AN ARREST
AN ARREST
The day after his memorable talk with Juve, Fandor was summoned to appear before the police magistrate, because he could give evidence regarding the rue Raffet affair, and had saved Elizabeth Dollon's life. It was about four in the afternoon, and he had just entered the passage leading to the offices so familiar to him, when he met Elizabeth. Behind her came several persons whom he recognised: among them were the Barbey-Nanteuil partners, Madame Bourrat, and the servant, Jules. They were togethe
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AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK
After Monsieur Fuselier's departure, Fandor rejoined Madame Bourrat on the boulevard. The good woman was very much upset by the dramatic scene she had witnessed. She had sent off her manservant, and was preparing to take the tram back to Auteuil. Fandor asked if he might accompany her, and Madame Bourrat was only too delighted to have a chance of further talk with the journalist, for she had a lively desire to learn all she could about the extraordinary drama in which she found herself involved.
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CRIMINAL OR VICTIM?
CRIMINAL OR VICTIM?
At the bottom of his trunk Jérôme Fandor was foaming with rage, furious at being caught in the trap and uneasy as to how this adventure would end. Whilst he was realising that his unknown porters were carrying their heavy weight with difficulty to the pavement of rue Raffet, he made up his mind to a definite course of action: regardless of consequences, he was going to shout, move about, make a regular disturbance, rouse the attention of the passers-by—if there happened to be any—but, at all cos
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UNDER THE HOODED MASK
UNDER THE HOODED MASK
What had happened? By way of what mysterious adventures had the corpse of sugar refiner Thomery reached that empty room in rue Lecourbe, where Jérôme Fandor had come across it? Two days previous, on the afternoon of Elizabeth Dollon's arrest, Monsieur Thomery was working in his study, when a servant came to tell him that a lady wished to speak to him. "Did she give you her name?" asked Thomery. "No, monsieur, this person said her name would tell you nothing; but she was sure monsieur would see h
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IN A PRISON VAN
IN A PRISON VAN
In one of the rooms reserved for readers of La Capitale , Jérôme Fandor was gravely listening to Madame Bourrat's account of what had occurred at her boarding-house during the night. She had rushed off to tell him and to ask his advice. "What you tell me, madame, is truly extraordinary!" said Fandor, with an air of profound astonishment.... "How did you discover that the police inspector who seized the trunk and carried it away was not a genuine policeman?" "Why, through the arrival of Monsieur
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AN EXECUTION
AN EXECUTION
"Not much water about, is there?" "That's so, old 'un.... If I'd known, it's boats I'd have taken to!" "Bah! Your shoes are big enough. That's not saying it's weather for a Christian to be out in!" "Don't you grumble, old 'un! The more it comes down cats and dogs, the fewer stumps will be stirring out doors!... But a comrade or two will be on the prowl, eh?" "Right-o, old bird!... Keep a lookout!... Sure he'll come this way?" "You bet your nut he will!... He got my bit of a scrawl this morning..
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FROM VAUGIRARD TO MONTMARTRE
FROM VAUGIRARD TO MONTMARTRE
On the boulevard du Palais, Jérôme Fandor looked at his watch: it was half an hour after noon. "The hour for copy! Courage! I will go to La Capitale ." Scarcely had he put foot in the large hall when the editorial secretary called: "There you are, Fandor!... At last!... That's a good thing!... Whatever have you been up to since yesterday evening? I got them to telephone to you twice, but they could not get on to you, try as they might. My dear fellow, you really mustn't absent yourself without g
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AT SAINT LAZARE
AT SAINT LAZARE
"Hop along there! See if you can't hurry up a bit!" The warder opened the door of Elizabeth's Dollon's cell and pushed in an old woman—a horrid looking creature. "In with you!" commanded the warder in a harsh tone. "You are to stay here till to-morrow. We will find another place for you when we get instructions...." Poor Elizabeth Dollon stared miserably at this strange companion which Fate, in the person of a warder, had thrust on her. The old woman stared with no little curiosity at the pale,
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A MOUSE TRAP
A MOUSE TRAP
Jérôme Fandor had been ringing Juve's door bell in vain: the great detective was not at home. "What the deuce is he doing? What has become of him? Never have I needed his advice as I need it now!... His support, encouragement—what a comfort they would be!... It is possible he would have dissuaded me against the attempt—or, he might have joined forces with me! Hang it all! It was a jolly bad move on Juve's part to make himself scarce at such a critical moment for me!... It is a long time, too, si
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IN THE TRAP
IN THE TRAP
The servant had retired, leaving the three men to their fruit and wine. His hosts turned to Fandor in mute interrogation.... But Fandor continued to peel a superb peach with the utmost coolness: he did not seem disposed to talk. Barbey broke the silence. "Tell me, now that your first day on guard is ended, and you have not left us for a moment—have you noticed anything at all suspicious?" Fandor shook his head. "Nothing whatever." This was not strictly true; for he had noticed an individual in t
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THE IMPRINT
THE IMPRINT
"Monsieur Fandor, I am entirely of your opinion!" Hearing these words, Fandor, who had regained his self-possession, and was ready to start fighting again if necessary, looked at the individual who had made this statement—the individual whose face was oddly familiar. "Who are you?" he asked. The individual smiled broadly. "Don't you recognise me?" he asked. He removed his wig, threw the candle light on himself, and smilingly announced his style and title. "Sergeant Juve, once of the detective fo
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COURAGE
COURAGE
"Have some more chicken?" "No, thanks: I am not hungry." "But you should eat all the same!" "Are you eating anything yourself?" "Faith, I am not!" "Well, then?" In the private room of the Fat-Pheasant restaurant, where Juve and Fandor were dining, silence again fell. The two men sat motionless, gazing into space. They neither wished to eat food nor do anything at all. They were depressed to the last degree; they felt baffled: they were sick of every mortal thing! All of a sudden, Fandor burst in
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