mply mean that you would be arrested by some
detective who knows less than I do, and thrown into prison as you
confidently expected to be this morning."

"Then what is to become of me?"

"What do you think of doing yourself?"

"Going to see my father."

"No, no," Juve protested once more. "I tell you not to go. It would be
stupid and utterly useless. Wait a few days, a few weeks if need be.
When I have put my hand on Fantomas' shoulder, I will be the very first
to take you to your father, and proclaim your innocence."

"Why wait until Fantomas is arrested?" Charles Rambert asked, the mere
sound of the name seeming to wake all his former enthusiasm on the
subject of that famous criminal.

"Because if you are innocent of the charge brought against you, it is
extremely likely that Fantomas is the guilty party. When he is laid by
the heels you will be able to protest your innocence without any fear."

Charles Rambert sat silent for some minutes, musing on the odd chance of
destiny which required him to make his own return to normal life
contingent on the arrest of a mysterious criminal, who was merely
suspected, and had never been seen nor discovered.

"What do you advise me to do?" he asked presently.

The detective got up and began to pace the room.

"Well," he began, "the first fact is that I am interested in you, and
the next is, that while I was having that rough-and-tumble last night
with that scoundrel in the supper-room, I thought for a minute or two
that it was all up with me: your chipping in saved my life. On the other
hand I may be said to have saved your life now by ascertaining your
innocence and preventing your arrest. So we are quits in a way. But you
began the delicate attentions, and I have only paid you back, so it's up
to me to start a new series and not turn you out into the street where
you would inevitably get into fresh trouble. So this is what I propose:
change your name and go and take a room somewhere; get into proper
clothes and then come back to me, and I'll give you a letter to a friend
of mine who is on one of the big evening papers. You are well educated,
and I know you are energetic. You are keen on everything connected with
the police, and you'll get on splendidly as a reporter. You will be able
to earn an honest and respectable name that way. Would you like to try
that idea?"

"It's awfully good of you," Charles Rambert said gratefully. "I should
love to be able to earn my liv