“Read, read!” rose a unanimous cry—and in a voice trembling with emotion, M. Monnier read out:
“—By my decree, Désiré Ferrand has been held prisoner since yesterday. Again by my decree, he will be released to-day at 5 o’clock.
“By seizing the Minister of Justice and holding him at my disposition, I have merely desired to afford an indication of my power to compel the House to negotiate with me; I want money, I must have a million francs; let the Government decide to give me this sum, and I will disappear. If not, the direst consequences must be faced; I shall begin with the Minister of Justice, the entire Government will be dealt with in turn.”
The reading of this monstrous document roused in the auditors divers feelings of the most opposite nature. While some members laughed uproariously, persuaded it was simply a grotesque joke, others looked perturbed, asking themselves if the President of the Council had not lost his head. But a vivid curiosity was universal. There could be no doubt something prodigious, phenomenal was involved! Supposing the defiance to be facetious, still the disappearance of the Minister was alarming.
What was this mysterious power that functioned thus in the dark, but whose existence could not be disputed? Instinctively, reason, logic, common sense urged one and all to seek to know the author of these atrocious pleasantries, and M. Monnier was exhorted to make known the name signed at the foot of the letter.
With a wave of the hand the President demanded silence, then he announced, in troubled tones, not knowing whether his words would provoke an outburst of mockery or of panic:
“It is signed,” he said, “Fantômas!”
The Chamber was in an uproar. The name was too familiar, too notorious, too terrifying, not to sow distraction in the ranks of the people’s representatives. In truth all were pretty well agreed that only Fantômas could have had the audacity to imagine such a scheme could succeed.
“Fantômas!” they declared, “yes, Fantômas is at the bottom of all this, that is certain, beyond dispute!”
But numerous objections were raised against any such conclusion: “Fantômas, why yes, he exists, that cannot be denied; but the police unearthed the fellow, the elusive brigand was none other than the Criminal Investigation Officer, Inspector Juve! Now, Juve had been in gaol for the last six months! He was to be tried; meantime the prisoner was under safe watch and ward at the gaol of La Santé.”