Fanfar

“ Just as Fanfar mounted his horse, an incident occurred which passed unperceived by the others.
Irène went up to the groom who held her horse, and with the air of giving him some directions, she said to Fanfar, in a low voice:
"Are you not wounded? Are you not risking your life to save that of your father?" She emphasized the word father, as if to make amends for having previously called him master.
"I am always ready to die for those I love!" answered Fanfar, as he examined the animal with attention. ”

“ CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE CRISIS.
"At last!" cried the Marquis, when the news of Fanfar's death reached him. He sent for Magdalena.
"Madame!" he said, "rejoice with me. Let us forget our mutual wrongs, for a new horizon stretches before us. All our anxieties are over. The man who stood between us and the possession of a fortune is dead!"
"Of whom do you speak?"
"Of this Fanfar, who, after making an attempt on the life of our king, was struck dead in the court-room during his trial."
"And this Fanfar was the son of Simon de Fongereues?" ”

“ Labarre was told the whole truth. Fanfar was liberated, and restored to life by the physician whom Gudel had brought with him. The Marquis de Fongereues went on to the château with the body of the Vicomte.
"And Labarre, where is he?"
"In the boat waiting for us, but I have not yet told you all. We should have made an end of Cyprien, for he threatened to denounce us. The only thing for Fanfar is to flee the country. A quarter of a league from shore a vessel awaits us. Come, Fanfar, there is no time to lose, you know that you start for America to-night." ”

“ He started back, for he saw before him the living image of the old Marquis de Fongereues. He must know the truth at any price. He fought against his fatigue, and just as Fanfar was about to leap into the saddle, the Marquis pressed the animal with his knee, and the animal was off like the wind. Fanfar believed that the horse had ran away. ”

“ One of the peasants did tell me that he always thought this Master Simon—he taught a school—was a [Pg 158] great lord in disguise, but there are always just such foolish stories, and you know in those days great lords were not often killed in defending France."
Fanfar entered somewhat abruptly.
"This is the lad, sir," said Gudel, drawing him to his side. "He is good, he is honest, he is strong!"
"I wish to thank you, young man," said the Marquis, turning to Fanfar, "for saving my life." ”

“ Fongereues was overjoyed. Cyprien had kept his word.
"And this man," continued the Magistrate, "when summoned to name his accomplices, said that he obeyed the instructions of a secret society, of which this Fanfar is the chief."
"An infamous falsehood!" exclaimed Fanfar.
"An assassin! never!" murmured Irène, as she rose from her knees, hastily.
Arthur held her back. He had divined her secret. "Do not betray yourself," he whispered, "rely on me."
[Pg 245]
Fanfar looked around. Escape was impossible. He turned to Irène. "Save my sister!" he said to her. ”

“ Do you wonder that Fanfar hates the Bourbons? And you ask if you may trust him!"
There was a brief silence, and then the man who looked like an old soldier spoke.
"Gudel," he said, "we believe you. For ten years, over and over again, you have proved to us your devotion and your honesty."
Iron Jaws blushed with pleasure.
"Fanfar will be here presently. You will find him ready to do your bidding, and to risk his life in the performance of his duty."
"You know the situation," resumed one of the men; "our enemies are already quarreling among themselves, our friends are redoubling their efforts. ”

“ Fanfar's tone struck his friend as being rather depressed.
"What is it?" said Gudel. "You have had encounters with the police before, and will have again, I imagine."
"It is not that; but first we will walk over these roofs, to the end."
"Very good!"
They started, Fanfar going a little in front. Suddenly he stopped.
"Zounds!" he said, "here is a wide courtyard; it is impossible for us to cross it. We must get down now." ”

“ Not one moved. Fanfar, with folded arms, stood looking at them.
"She lives!" cried Irène. "She breathes! Mother, dear mother, permit this girl to be carried to our home. [Pg 244] I will bring her back to life; you will give me permission?" she asked, turning to Fanfar.
"She is my sister!" said Fanfar.
Irène imprinted a kiss on Francine's brow. This was her reply to Fanfar's words.
Talizac ran to the door of the salon and summoned the lacqueys. "Here, take this man away!"
And, as they crowded in, Fanfar said: "Who dares lay a hand on me?" ”

“ He uttered a joyous exclamation.
"Most men," he said to himself, "would find this rock impracticable, but Fanfar can do it."
He returned to the Marquis.
"Put your arms about my neck," he said, "and trust to me."
The Marquis obeyed, and Fanfar, weighed down again by this burthen, climbed the path heretofore [Pg 146] trodden only by goats. They reached the top in safety, there they found Irène's horse. ”

“ They were successful in their efforts, and saved the lives of both the man and the woman. Sanselme, however, had a brain fever, and the woman, Fanfar discovered, was insane. With her it was a passing delirium. Fanfar was greatly puzzled to know what to do with her. Who was she? Whence came she? There was nothing about her person which would elucidate the mystery. It was possible that she had escaped from some hospital, and Fanfar went to the Prefecture to make inquiries, but no such disappearance was registered there. ”

“ No power on earth could induce him to have anything to do with the marquis. He would leave France, and try to forget, in a foreign country, what he had suffered.
That very night Fanfaro travelled, in company with his sister, Girdel, Bobichel, and Caillette, to Algiers. Before the ship lifted anchor, Fanfaro had received from Irene's lips the promise that she would become his wife. Her mother's life hung on a thread, and as long as she remained on earth the daughter could not think of leaving her. ”

“ The men of Leigoutte had made a stand against the Cossacks, but had been fairly blown into the air by them. I returned home dissatisfied. Fanfaro remained with us; he learned our tricks, and we love him very much. Where he managed to procure the knowledge he has is a riddle to me; he never went [Pg 71] to a regular school, and yet he knows a great deal. He is a genius, my lord marquis, and a treasure for our troupe."
Cold drops of perspiration stood on the nobleman's forehead. No, there was no longer any doubt: Fanfaro was his brother's son! ”

“ Fanfaro's hands and feet were as small as those of a woman, but, as Girdel had said, his muscles and veins were as hard as iron.
The iron hooks were fast now, and the young man swung himself upon a plank; he then glided down one trapeze, and with a quick movement grasped the other.
Like an arrow the slim body shot through the air, and then Fanfaro sprung lightly to the ground, while the trapeze flew back.
At the very moment the young man let go of the trapeze a faint scream was heard, and Caillette, deadly pale, stood next to Fanfaro. ”

“ The Marquis drew his breath with pain. "Go on! go on!" he muttered in a hoarse voice.
"He said his father's name was Simon, his mother's name Françoise, and a little sister was called Francinette, but he gave me no family name. I did my best and found that the father had been killed in an engagement among the mountains, the mother was burned in a fire set by the Cossacks, the sister had disappeared; my little Fanfar was all alone. I kept him, and did what I could for him. I taught him my profession. This is the whole story. On one side good, brave people, on the other cowards and assassins." ”

“ Tell me what has happened to Fanfaro? I know danger threatens him, and two can bear the heaviest burden easier than one."
"Yes, you are right," replied Irene, embracing Louison, and, gently leading her to her room, she sat down beside her and hastily told her what she knew about the conspiracy and the part Fanfaro took in it. ”

“ But don't be silly enough to offer Fanfaronade any.' And this time the Princess, who was fainting with hunger, took the nightingale's advice, and ate what she found all by herself. But Fanfaronade, seeing that she had found something good, and was not going to share it with him, ran after her in such a fury that she hastily drew out the Queen's carbuncle, which had the property of rendering people invisible if they were in danger, and when she was safely hidden from him she reproached him gently for his unkindness. ”

“ This extraordinary studio revealed a blood-freezing spectacle.
Facing him, immobile, rigid, was stationed a being whom Fandor had had a fleeting glimpse of two or three times in his life. He had seen this enigmatic and formidable being under circumstances so tragic, on occasions so phenomenal, that this being's outline was graven on his memory for ever!
There was the cloak of many folds, dense black; the hooded mask, the large soft hat shading the eyes; the strange inimitable outline!... Fandor was facing Fantômas! ”

“ A few minutes after, Fandor clearly heard some persons entering the ground floor of the house.
He listened intently: he could hear his own heartbeats.
Then a voice said:
"In Heaven's name! Is it possible? Why do you come to upset people at this time of night? As if we had not had enough to put up with during the day! It is a dreadful business! There's no doubt about it! Are we never to be left in peace?"
"Why, it's Madame Bourrat's voice!" said Fandor. "Poor woman! What's up?" ”

“ Juve cut Fandor short.
"Gently! Fandor! Gently! You are putting the cart before the horse, old fellow; and if we continue to talk by fits and starts, never shall we come to the end of all we have to say to each other, and must say. Are you aware, Fandor, that we have been drawn into a succession of incomprehensible occurrences—a mysterious network of them?... But I have good hopes that now we shall be able to work together again; and I like to think that if we follow the different trails we have each started on, we shall end up by..." ”

“ Fandor looked the banker in the eye.
"Fantômas!" said he. "Do not attempt to deny what is no longer possible to deny!... The trick is remarkably clever, and you have reason to be proud of your invention. Perhaps I should never have discovered it, if in this very room, this very night, you had not been imprudent enough to leave those imprints on my collar!... No one had left the room, therefore the guilty person was in the room—of necessity he was: therefore, it followed, that someone had the hands of Dollon!... ”

“ Almost on the defensive, in a voice of fear, Lady Beltham said for the third time: “Speak, sir, speak!”
“Madam,” Fandor resumed in trembling accents, “I love deeply, with all my heart and all my soul, an unhappy young girl whose name you know, for it bears a melancholy renown. Elisabeth Dollon, I mean. Madam, by your lover’s doing—nay, never protest, all denial is in vain between us—by your lover’s doing, I, I Jérôme Fandor, am deemed by Elisabeth Dollon, as by all men, to be Fantômas. She would love me if she knew me innocent, now she hates me, fears me, flies from me! ”

“ The corporal continued, stammeringly:
"Ah, Monsieur, you do not know what it is to have for your mistress such a woman as ... she whom I love, ... such a woman as ... Nichoune! Nichoune! Ah, all Châlons knows what she is like. Her wickedness is well known ... but for all that, there is not a man who."...
Fandor interrupted:
"But, my good corporal, why are you telling me all this?"
"Why, Monsieur," replied Vinson, after a pause and a piteous look, "because—it's because ... I have sworn to tell you everything before I die!"
"Hang it all! What do you mean to do?" asked Fandor. ”

“ One being, and one only, was capable of such a diabolically clever performance; and Fandor, who would not believe it some weeks before, when discussing the question with Juve, had now to accept his hypothesis as a certainty: his acts caused his unseen personality to hit you in the eyes! Only one person could pull the strings with such a demon hand!... Yes, Fandor could no longer doubt that his desperate plight was due to the terrific, odious, elusive Fantômas!
Our journalist was now in the lowest depths. He attempted to keep calm and cool, but he had lost grip of himself.... ”

“ Fandor laughed.
"Why, of course I can, madame! To find the points of the compass, to cultivate the sense of locality, is part of a journalist's profession."
"Do not forget to draw to behind you—it needs a strong pull—the gate which separates us from the street: once shut, no one can open it from outside."
Fandor, shaking hands with the boarding-house keeper, promised to close the gate. As the sound of his steps on the gravel grew less and less, as the gate fell to with a loud noise, and an absolute silence followed, Madame Bourrat felt sure that her guest had left the garden—had gone away. ”

“ A prisoner in his lantern, still gagged, still tied hand and foot, Fandor seemed the victim of an atrocious nightmare. Scarce had the men entered the room before Fandor realized the full horror of his situation, guessed the whole secret of the villainous design. The men were police officers, they were shouting: “Jérôme Fandor, hands up! or you are a dead man.”
Then they began to search the garret, to turn everything upside down, to hunt about, to hunt for him! The young man felt a cold sweat bead his temples. What had been in Fantômas’ mind? He knew it only too well. ”