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Exploits of Juve

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<h2>XVIII</h2> <h3>FANTÔMAS' VICTIM</h3> "You understand my object, Fandor? Hitherto I have worked unaided. I wanted to unearth Fantômas and bring him to Headquarters, saying to my superiors, 'For three years you have maintained this man was dead; well, here he is! I have put the darbies on the most terrible ruffian of modern times.' Well, I must forego my little triumph. We must now work in the open. Public opinion must come to our aid." "Then you want me to write my article?" "Yes, and tell all the details; wind up by putting the question squarely. 'Is not Fantômas still alive?' Then sum up in the affirmative. Now, be off. I want to read your article this evening in the Capital." Fandor had just left his detective friend when old Jean, the only servant that Juve tolerated in his private quarters, entered the room.[Pg 143] "Don't forget the person who is waiting in the parlour, sir." "Ah, yes, to be sure. A person who comes to see me at home, when nobody knows my address should be interesting. Show him in, Jean." Juve placed his revolver in reach of his hand as Jean announced: "Maître Gérin, notary." Juve rose, motioned his visitor to a chair and inquired the object of his visit. Maître Gérin bowed respectfully to Juve. "I must apologise," he said, "for coming to disturb you at home, sir, but it concerns a matter of such importance and it involves names so terrible that I could not utter them within the walls of the Sûreté. What brings me here is a crime which must be laid to Fantômas or his heirs in crime." Juve was strangely moved. "Speak, sir, I am all attention." "M. Juve, I believe that one of my clients, a woman, has been killed. I have had for some time a certain sympathy, and, I don't disguise it, an immense curiosity concerning her because she was actually involved in the mysterious affairs of Fantômas." "The name of the woman, counsel, her name, I beg of you?" "The name of the woman who, I fear, has been murdered is—Lady Beltham!"[Pg 144] Juve gave a sigh of relief. It was the name he wished to hear. Maître Gérin continued: "I have been Lady Beltham's lawyer for a long period of time, but since the Fantômas case came to an end in the sentencing to death of Gurn and the subsequent scandal attached to the name of Lady Beltham, I have ceased to have any further tidings of that unhappy woman. "Indirectly, through the medium of the papers which at times gave out some echo of her, I knew that she had been travelling, then, that she was back in Paris, and had gone to live at Neuilly, Boulevard Inkermann. But I did not see her again. It is true her family matters were settled, her husband's estate entirely wound up. In short, she had no reason to appeal to me professionally." "To be sure." "Well, some days ago, I was greatly surprised by her visiting my office. Naturally I refrained from asking her any awkward questions." Juve interrupted: "In Heaven's name, sir, how long ago is it since Lady Beltham called on you?" "Nineteen days, sir." A sigh of relief escaped Juve. He had feared all his theories regarding the body at the Morgue[Pg 145] the day before were going to collapse. "Go on, sir," he cried. "Lady Beltham, on being shown into my private office, appeared to me much the same physically as I had known her previously, but she was no longer the great lady, cold, haughty, a trifle disdainful. She seemed crushed under a terrible load, a prey to awful mental torture. She made appeal to my discretion, both professionally and as a man of honour. "She then spoke as follows: 'I am going to write a letter which, if it fell into the hands of a third person, would bring about a great calamity. This letter I shall intrust to you together with my Will which will instruct you what to do with it at my death. I will send you a visiting card with a line in my own handwriting every fortnight. If ever this card fails to come, conclude that I am dead, that they have murdered me, and carry that letter where I tell you—Avenge me!'" "Well, what then?" cried Juve, anxiously. "That is all, M. Juve. I have not seen Lady Beltham again, nor had any news of her. When I called at her residence I was told she was away. I have come to ask you whether you think she has been murdered." Juve was pacing his room with great strides. "Maître," he said at last, "your story confirms[Pg 146] all I have suspected. Yes, Lady Beltham is dead. She has been murdered. That letter contained her confession and revealed not only her own crimes, but those of her accomplices, of her master—of—Fantômas. Fantômas killed her to free himself of a witness to his evil life." "Fantômas! But Fantômas is dead." "So they say." "Have you proofs of his existence?" "I am looking for them." "What do you think of doing?" "I am going to make an investigation. I am going to learn where and how Lady Beltham was killed. I shall see you again, Maître. Read The Capital this evening. You will find in it many interesting surprises." <hr style="width: 65%;"/>[Pg 147] <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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