A Royal Prisoner (Un Roi Prisonnier de Fantômas) by Marcel Allain & Pierre Souvestre

Author:Marcel Allain & Pierre Souvestre
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781470965433
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 1911-11-16T21:00:00+00:00

“Sire! Can you hear me?”

A sharp voice broke the silence. It seemed to come from a distance.

“Sire, can you hear me?... Answer!”

Frederick-Christian sprang up.

“Who is speaking? Who are you? Help! Help!”

The voice, mocking and authoritative, answered:

“Now, then, keep quiet. I am not within reach, so it is useless to cry for help.”

“Scoundrel!” cried the King.

“There's no use in behaving like a child... you won't gain anything by it.”

“Pity, pity!... I will make you rich... I will give you anything you ask, only set me at liberty... take me out of this prison or I shall become mad.”

“Have you done with your lamentations?”

“Ill be revenged!”

“I am beyond your vengeance, Sire, and you would do well to talk quietly with me.”

“You killed my mistress, Susy d'Orsel!”

“Yes, I killed her.”

“You are Fandor—Jerome Fandor!”

“What you say is absurd.”

“And my Kingdom? The Queen, my wife? What is happening?”

“I didn't come here to discuss politics with you. You must be reasonable.”

“What do you want with me? Why was I brought here?”

“Ah, now we can discuss the matter together. You ask me what I want. First of all, let me reassure you. I do not intend to kill you. Your death would not be of the slightest use to me. Otherwise I shouldn't hesitate an instant.”

“I'm not afraid of death.”

“I know that, Sire... you are brave.... I want your diamond.”

“My diamond!”

“Exactly. I am quite aware, Frederick-Christian, that your personal fortune is represented by a diamond of marvelous purity and size. I also know that it is hidden in your Palace. You, alone, know where. I want you to disclose its hiding place to me so that I may go and get it.”

“Never! I'm not a coward!”

“You are stupid, Sire, I repeat, once in possession of the diamond, I will set you at liberty.”

“Lies!”

“Sire, consider a moment. It would be practically impossible for me to realize anything like the value of the diamond. To sell it I should be obliged to break it into small pieces, and in that case it would scarcely fetch more than twenty millions. Now, I have a better suggestion to offer.”

“What is it?”

“You are to give me directions how to find it. Once in my possession, you are free. You will then draw the sum of fifty millions from your bank. As King that will be quite possible. This money you will turn over to me in exchange for your diamond. And don't think you will be able to catch me. I shall take care that the exchange is made without witnesses, and in such a way that I run no risk of arrest. Now, what do you say to my proposition?”

“I refuse.”

“Very well, then in two hours you will be dead. I pledge my word for it... And my word has some value. Perhaps you guess who I am.”

“Who? Who?”

“I am Fantomas, Sire.”

At this name of horror and crime, Frederick-Christian was seized with the utmost terror. In a broken voice he replied:

“I accept.”

And then in trembling, disjointed sentences, he gave up the secret of the hiding place in his Palace at Glotzbourg.

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