Fantômas was wringing out his garments inhaste when loud cries sounded above his head, and two or three shots rang out. At the same time a sudden stirring took place in and around the house. He turned it to account by going at once to the air-hole. Now there was no one on guard, so Fantômas put his head through, then his shoulders.
"That's all right; the brute is dead!"
Juve was examining curiously the creature which lay helpless on the floor. Two trembling sergeants stood at the door of the room.
"We were expecting Fantômas to appear and a snake unrolls itself and springs in our faces!" cried Fandor.
Half emerging from the mouth of the heater the monstrous body of a boa constrictor lay on the floor. The men Juve had brought into the house were resolute, ripe for anything, but never did they imagine that Fantômas could assume such an unexpected shape. And terrified, overwhelmed with dread, they recoiled in a frenzy of fear and fled, calling on their mates outside, who at once ran to their assistance.
"Sir!" A terrified voice called from outside.
Juve rushed to the window. A dripping creature, clad in black from head to foot, crossed the garden, running toward the servants' quarters.It was Fantômas. Juve swore a great oath: "There he is! Getting away!"
The detective left his cry unfinished.
As he issued by the air-holes, Fantômas leaped forward. He was free!
"Juve scored the first game, the second is mine," he cried.
He reached the woodshed. With a practised hand he turned the electric tap which ignited a spark in the dark closet behind the pantry.
"I win!" shouted Fantômas, as a terrible explosion made itself heard.
The earth shook, a huge column of black smoke rose skywards, explosion followed explosion. The roar of falling walls was mingled with fearful cries and dying groans.
Lady Beltham's villa had been blown up, burying under its ruins the hapless men who in their pursuit of Fantômas had ventured too near. Assuredly this arch-criminal had got away once more. But were Juve and Fandor among the dead?
THE END
FOOTNOTES:[A]See "Fantômas."[B]See "Fantômas."
[A]See "Fantômas."
[A]See "Fantômas."
[B]See "Fantômas."
[B]See "Fantômas."
Transcriber's NoteThe following printer's errors have been corrected.Page 48 'turnd' to 'turned''Loupart turned and tramped'Page 83 'reasurred' to 'reassured''Juve quickly reassured him'Page 96 'than' to 'then''then in a voice'Page 158 'Mechancially' to 'mechanically''mechanically she went forward'Page 176 'grenery' to greenery''under the arch of greenery'Page 221 'unkown' to 'unknown''identity should remain unknown'Page 252 'vistors' to 'visitors''The porter led his visitors'Page 266 'acccomplice' to 'accomplice''was indeed the accomplice of'Page 270 'later' to 'latter''the latter rose and began'Page 295 'drpping' to 'dripping''dripping with sweat'
The following printer's errors have been corrected.