“Little I cared for her love, it was her jewels I was after; you see I have nothing to hide from you!” “Scoundrel! ruffian!” screamed Lady Beltham, “so that is the alternative you offer me—to find my satisfaction in your thievish instincts to appease the horrid jealousy that stabs my heart. No, it must end, Fantômas, a life like this is become impossible, you must make your choice; choose betwixt us two, the princess and me. I do not mince my words: I bid you think of the consequences!” A flash of rage flamed in Fantômas’ eye, but to-day the pirate, the outlaw had clearly no chance left to show himself, as usual, the master, the tyrant, the despot, who commands, and all men obey! He must condescend to parley, and in a choked voice he muttered: “Let us leave that for the moment, Lady Beltham, let us leave it; more serious events are brewing, are imminent!” The great lady laughed sardonically. “Why, yes!” she sneered, “I don’t doubt that, if you are here, it is evidently ...” Fantômas cut her short. “Lady Beltham,” he assured her, “our plans have been frustrated, the scheme I had built up is crumbling to pieces; since yesterday Juve has been free and triumphant....” “Juve!” cried Lady Beltham, thunderstruck, “is it possible?” Fantômas nodded in confirmation. “Juve!” reiterated his agonized mistress, “why, then it is the same existence of anguish and fear and never ending alarms will begin again, but worse than ever.” “Yes, Juve is at large,” insisted Fantômas. Then he added; “But as you were saying just now, Lady Beltham, I think it must all end—yes, and soon?” “What do you propose then?” Lady Beltham stopped suddenly. The bell of the house telephone that communicated with the porter’s lodge had just rung. Mechanically the great lady unhooked the receiver and listened. She was going to say no! to the question asked by the servant speaking from the other end of the wire, but Fantômas, without the smallest scruple, had appropriated the second receiver. “Ask him up, madam,” he gave his orders, “you cannot do otherwise, you must!” Lady Beltham obeyed and gave the required answer to the servant: “Ask Monsieur Ascott kindly to come upstairs; show him into my rooms.” * * * * *