King of Hesse-Weimar entered the reception-room
accompanied by his friend, the Marquis de Serac.

Juve could not repress a start. The daring of Fantomas was beyond
belief. But his first duty was to recover the diamond. Leaning toward
his prisoner, he whispered:

"Hand over the diamond immediately."

The adventuress gave him a strange and mysterious look.

"Monsieur, slip your hand into my sleeve."

Juve obeyed. His fingers instantly closed around the precious jewel
which he identified at once by the feel.

"Monsieur, I came here for the express purpose of returning it, please
believe me."

At this moment Juve met the eyes of M. Annion, and he realized that the
time had come to report to his chief. The detective had three plain
clothes men at his elbow; he now turned to them and with a gesture gave
the care of Lady Beltham into their keeping. Juve then advanced through
the crowded room toward M. Annion and the King. The latter watched him
closely and whispered to M. Vicart:

"This time we mustn't hesitate."

In a moment Juve felt his arms seized and pinioned, and then before he
could recover from his amazement, he was hustled off into a private
room.

"Search him!"

Immediately one of his guards snatched the diamond from his waistcoat
pocket. Juve looked up and in the doorway stood the absurd Wulf and by
his side the Marquis de Serac.

"Fantomas," he cried, "Fantomas!... arrest him!" Then in a sudden access
of rage:

"Let me go, you idiots! M. Annion, what does this mean? Fantomas stands
before you! We've got him, and Lady Beltham, too!"

M. Annion paid no attention to his outburst, but calmly turned to
another man who had appeared on the scene.

"Monsieur Heberlauf, do you recognize this man?"

M. Heberlauf, who never could make a decision, hesitated:

"It seems to me ... I don't know ... I think I do. Madame Heberlauf can
tell you better than I can."

Madame Heberlauf now stepped forward and in a flood of words, explained
to M. Annion that she had no doubt in the matter.

"By a most infernal device, Monsieur, this criminal escaped from his
prison, and not content with that, he killed an unfortunate servant, an
old porter whom our police discovered the following day in the mortuary
chapel of Glotzbourg."

Instinctly Juve was about to protest but M. Annion held up a hand.

"Silence. You will explain at the trial." Then turning to the Marquis de
Serac, he handed the diamond to him.

"We are