nion, "Fantomas arrested, the diamond stolen, and
Juve doesn't return or send any word!"

The director of the Secret Service felt himself entangled in a network
of intrigues which seemed impossible to unravel. He seemed to be
surrounded by an impenetrable mystery.

Fantomas! And now the name of Fantomas was associated with the scandal
brought about by Frederick-Christian!

M. Annion slept badly, haunted by a nightmare in which he was constantly
pursuing an extraordinary Fantomas, whom he would seize and bind and who
would then suddenly vanish into thin air. At eight o'clock in the
morning he appeared at his office. There a surprise awaited him. Upon
his desk lay a telegram. Rapidly tearing it open, he glanced at the
text.

"Ah!... Good God! Can it be true! Fantomas dead! Fantomas dead in
prison! I must be dreaming!"

While he was rereading the astonishing news, the door of his office
opened and Juve walked in.

"Juve!"

"Myself, Chief."

"Well!"

"Well," replied Juve, calmly, "I've had a pretty good trip."

Brandishing the telegram, M. Annion cried:

"Fantomas is dead!"

"Yes ... Fantomas is dead."

"What have you found out?"

"Oh, a thing or two ... rather interesting."

"And the diamond?"

"Stolen, Chief, disappeared."

"Stolen by Fantomas?"

"Yes, by Fantomas."

"It was you who arrested him?"

"Hum!--yes and no.... I was the cause of his arrest."

"And the murder of Susy d'Orsel?"

"It was committed by Fantomas."

"You are sure of that?"

"Certain, Chief."

M. Annion rose and paced up and down in great excitement.

"Now then, let's get the facts in the case, tell me in detail what
occurred at Hesse-Weimar."

Juve had had the foresight to prepare a report which would tell enough
to prove that the murderer of Susy d'Orsel was really Fantomas, and thus
clear the name of the King. He gave no hint, however, that Fandor was
still, as Juve thought, impersonating Frederick-Christian, and made no
mention of his own adventures. He concluded by saying:

"In a word, we have now only to establish the guilt of Fantomas and
publish the story of his crime, to absolve the King in the eyes of
all ... and that will mean the end of your troubles."

"That is true!" replied the director joyfully, "and I may add it is
entirely due to you, my dear Juve. Why, the other day, I was actually on
the point of arresting Frederick-Christian, which would have been an
unpardonable blunder."

"Really?"

"Y