The oaken chest contained the secret of the tomb; it also contained the history of the Talpa people written by no less an authority than M. Milfroid, Commissioner of Police, who remained for three weeks with M. Théophraste Longuet in the subterranean home of those monsters. This last infernal comedy would most certainly have met with incredulity had not it been vented by one of the most honest and intellectual of Police Commissioners. M. Milfroid was a most noble and accomplished character, and he could place music, painting, sculptors among his accomplishments. Now before closing this preface I must warn my readers that they will find many strange things in the narrative, weird and almost supernatural. And I would say that unless he is possessed with great level-headedness, he must not read the secrets of the Life of Théophraste Longuet. CHAPTER PAGE Historical Preface........................ 5 I M. Théophraste Longuet Wishes to Inform Himself, and Visits Historical Monuments.............................. 15 II An Explanation from Théophraste------- 26 III A Search and a Discovery................ 34 IV Some Philosophy and a Song.............. 48 V Théophraste Remembers Himself......... 57 VI M. Lecamus Expresses Himself............ 64 VII Théophraste and His Black Plume_______ 68 VIII An Appeal for Help...................... 76 IX The Portrait............................ 84 X Cartouche’s Past........................ 94 XI Signor Appears.......................... 99 XII Théophraste’s Memory is Refreshed.. 112 XIII The Cat................................ 125 XIV Petito Loses His Ears.................. 131 XV Adolphe Consulted...................... 140 XVI On Private Ground...................... 146 XVII They Decide to Kill.................... 161 XVIII The Operation.......................... 166 XIX The Torture Chamber.................... 177 XX In the Charnel House................... 188 XXI Results of the Operation............... 197 XXII Visits to a Butcher’s Shop............ 201 XXIII A Newspaper Report..................... 207 XXIV The Murder in the Rue Guenegaud... 215 CHAPTER PAGE XXV The Calf’s Revenge.............. 221 XXVI Théophraste Again Hears of His Treasures...................... 228 XXVII The Express Train’s Disappearance 234 XXVIII Not to be Explained.............. 240 XXIX M. Mifroid Recognizes Cartouche.. 244 XXX M. Mifroid’s Theory................ 247 XXXI Lost in the Catacombs.............. 253 XXXII A Dissertation on Fish............. 264 XXXIII The Meeting of the Talfa........ 269 XXXIV M. Mifroid Performs on the Stage.. 276 XXXV A New Trade...................... 280 XXXVI A Robber Is Caught................. 284 XXXVII The Escape from the Catacombs..... 287 XXXVIII An Old Friend...................... 293 XXXIX The Final Tragedy................... 296 THE DOUBLE LIFE CHAPTER I _M. Théophraste Longuet Wishes to Inform Him-self and Visits Historical Monuments_