, with Thomery shares,
which would pay out to speculators the differences in value between past
and present prices--which amounts would have to come out of the money
paid in the day before. Messieurs, with regard to this, Thomery's death
did you a great service.... Without his death, which enriched you, you
would have had to settle up your sales by a certain date, and you would
have lost more than you gained at the moment, owing to the sole fact of
his disappearance!... I think you are very grateful to Jacques Dollon
because of what he has done for you."

Monsieur Nanteuil, on hearing these last words, rose. He walked up to
the journalist and said, in a voice quivering with some emotion:

"For my part, Monsieur Fandor, I think your way of explaining the Dollon
affair is a very strange way!... You assert that this painter is dead,
and you make him behave as if he were alive!... Besides, I have
understood your words! In truth, what you say is senseless: you make
wild statements! You have involved our Bank in every one of the Dollon
crimes!... You have shown us as interested parties in all these
robberies!"

Fandor said quietly:

"Nevertheless, it is unquestionably true that you are the gainers by
these crimes: beginning with Madame de Vibray and ending with Thomery.
Madame de Vibray might have brought an action against you for the loss
of her fortune, owing to your risky speculations and bad management.
Thomery's murder brought down his shares with a run, and you found that
a most advantageous state of affairs--you gained by it!... But, of
course, this is coincidence, since you are not Fantomas, since you are
not Jacques Dollon, since you cannot imitate the imprint of his
thumb!... I have only said this to show ..." Fandor stopped short.

"Hark!... Someone is coming upstairs! Here is Monsieur Havard!"

As the bankers were hurrying impatiently to the door, Fandor said in a
bantering tone:

"Do not stir a step further, I beg of you! Not a step! Let us receive
the chief of the detective force exactly in the position we were, not an
hour ago, when we encountered him whom the chief has now come to
arrest!"

Barbey and Nanteuil returned to their former positions. Those in the
room could hear voices on the other side of the door exchanging brief
remarks. The lock was being picked. Monsieur Havard entered and hurried
up to the journalist.

"Well, my dear Fandor, I have followed all your instructions to the
letter!...