Fandor shot forward, seized Trokoff by the throat, and, rolling on the floor with him, yelled:
"To me, Naarboveck! Fantomas, you are taken! Yield!"
Fandor"s grip and spring had been so sudden that Trokoff had not been able to defend himself. He and Fandor struggled, twisted, writhed, in a terrible embrace; panting, livid, with eyes of hate and horror!
De Naarboveck had laid hold of Trokoff, shouting:
"You shall die! You must die!"
This frightful struggle lasted but a few moments. Trokoff managed to free himself from Fandor"s grip. The stupefied journalist heard a familiar voice crying:
"Look out, Fandor! It is Naarboveck we must take! Go it! Go it!"
The studio was plunged in darkness: a door banged: Fandor staggered, driven violently back into the middle of the studio. He felt a man was rushing away.
"He escapes! He escapes!"
Fandor did not know who had remained with him, who, had fled, whether he was on his head or his heels!... It was a momentary bewilderment; for the voice he had heard when the struggle was at its height was still speaking, calm, mocking.... It was the voice of Juve, saying:
"How exasperating!... These matches are no good at all!... Ah!... this one has decided to catch!"
In the uncertain light of the match flame Fandor perceived someone leaning against the wall--it was Trokoff!--Trokoff, who calmly went up to a table, took a candlestick, and lighted a candle! Throwing himself into an arm-chair, this Trokoff asked:
"Well now? Why the devil are you got up as Fantomas, my lad?... For a military prisoner this is not at all correct!"
Could Fandor believe his ears? his eyes?
Trokoff was Juve!
Fandor looked so bewildered that Juve-Trokoff laughed a merry laugh.
"Come now, my Fandor, try to gather your wandering wits together a bit and answer me!"
"You, Juve!... You are Juve!" gasped Fandor, exhausted in mind, and body with the emotions he had experienced.
"So it happens," replied Juve: "Well, I see I must speak first as you do not seem to be in a condition to talk!... Listen, then!...
"I know these Nihilists, who imagine I am their chief, Trokoff--that is my latest transformation!... I learned this evening that these imbeciles, believing they had got hold of Fantomas, were summoned here to-night to pa.s.s judgment on the bandit.... I accompanied them as Trokoff, who had called them together. When we entered, I can a.s.sure you that, bound to your pillar, you made a striking figure of Fantomas!... You took in even me--for a while! Luckily I noticed your hands, the only portions of you visible, covered as you were in that confounded hooded thing they m.u.f.fled you up in.... You must know that the pattern of the veins on the hands is absolutely characteristic and individual; so much so that the anthropometric service in Vienna is entirely based on this principle!... That is how I recognized you, my little Fandor. You can imagine that my one idea then was to get rid of the Nihilists as soon as possible, and liberate you! But, by Jove, when I returned, you and Naarboveck between you attacked me so brutally that you nearly did for me! It was a narrow shave! He was throttling me! Had you fired your revolver at me you would almost certainly have killed me, and then you would have fallen a victim yourself to."...
Juve stopped. He questioned Fandor with a look. "De Naarboveck!... De Naarboveck, who is Fantomas," replied Fandor, who now understood the situation.
Juve crossed his arms.
"It is as you say. Vagualame, Naarboveck, Fantomas, are one and the same: and, be sure of this, we have not set eyes on the real face of Fantomas yet, for de Naarboveck is as much made up for the part as he is when playing Vagualame!... Also."...
"Juve! Juve!" interrupted Fandor.... "We are mad to stay talking like this!... Naarboveck has just vanished. He is certain to go to his place even if, feeling he is unmasked, he has decided to disappear forever. Do not let him escape! Juve, for Heaven"s sake, hurry!"
Juve did not stir.
"How very violent you are, and how simple, my little Fandor! Look now, it is quite three minutes since de Naarboveck disappeared from here, and you imagine there is still time to catch him?... It is childish!"...
"But Juve! I tell you de Naarboveck must return to his house! Let us put a watch on him and trap him!"
Juve"s voice trembled as he made answer:
"We cannot arrest de Naarboveck!"...
"Why?... What do you mean?"...
"Because, though I have the right to place my hand on the collar of Fantomas, I have no power to arrest de Naarboveck!"...
Fandor"s reply to this was an uncomprehending stare.
"It"s Greek to you, I see! Trust me, Fandor! At present I have no right to reveal this secret, but, take my word for it, Naarboveck is inviolable!"
Fandor understood that this was an official secret which Juve was not at liberty to divulge.
"Ye G.o.ds!" he exclaimed.
"Bah! The game is not lost yet, Fandor, my boy! I have still a card to play against his, and I play it this very night.... Enough of that for the moment! I am dying to know how you, whom I believed peacefully reposing at Cherche-Midi, happen to be playing the part of Fantomas in deserted studios!"
Juve"s coolness was infectious. Fandor was himself again. He told Juve the story of his escape. At the close he asked abruptly:
"Now what are we going to do?"
Juve shook his head.
"Attention, my lad! Don"t mix up the questions!... What am I going to do?... What are you going to do?... You, Fandor, ought to return to Cherche-Midi straight away, and ask them to put you back in your cell.
That is the wise thing to do, believe me, dear lad!... To get away like that was a mistake--a very grave mistake--the falsest of false moves.... To escape is equivalent to pleading guilty.... You are innocent.... Return, then, to your prison ... I can promise you that you will not remain there long."
"And you, Juve?"
Juve rose, yawned.
"Oh!... It is a nuisance, but I must get into evening dress ... and that I do not like ... I must go by train, too--confound it all!"...
In a sumptuously decorated study an elegantly clad Juve was listening to a personage. This personage was addressing our detective in a tone at once friendly and haughty.
"No. It is not possible. It is asking too much of me! You do not take into consideration, Juve, the many complications which such an intervention on my part would give rise to if, by chance, you are mistaken.... I have the greatest confidence in you, Juve, I know your ability: I have had proof of your loyalty: I have experienced your devotion, but--you are not infallible!... The story you have told me is so strange, so--improbable, that I have to take into consideration the possibility of there having been some mistake, some blunder. I have to consider the terrible consequences to which I should expose myself in such a case!"...
Juve frowned slightly.
"With all respect, I should like to point out to Your Majesty that it is a mere question of a signature to be given."...
"A signature, Juve, which commits me, my kingdom! It might fan the flame! Worse: it might put a match to the powder magazine."
"Your Majesty might consider that by such a signature the thing would be settled."