ea si Sasas5 hoo: Fares i329. ca car ar Seer NSS st eres (oa Seer eee = on yee c an ete ae c a bs Pm Rasps? as : xs 5 pores bon quran s 3 eo Sais esse aa te bai rs Hag eitMe tT Wet vetse Sere tare ae . = ia pS te Se : NIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LIBRARY Wi MthCert th east Cea rar aay rasa aT Pre wise ee ag ts Ae F2825s i ae = ot aes aaa ee See ee eae ae ee a: NG a Hib vfirig te Aah ita eae Payer rade eran a ees Shae = Seer ee = eee eee LUE Meta waite | SRieTHE) stort 5 say Hayate PiU eat eiti Bunt ie i] ae SSS <= aes aap ene : : ase! Sse er raeeesetoe ree eg Ngee 2oE SES Re rea ne ae ane ee ean Pan Se ae SSS eee SSS ran eRe Sey = Rane oaLIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA FROM THE BOOKS OF CHARLES L. MINOR, M. D. CLASS OF 1888 Pen RS RRLPyrite te Pere ee be Pee Petes eee ORE eo TeVIRGINIA VIRGINIA ALDERMA UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE:rurserarst ees] Tee Ep gtd ed a eeTHE OGLTOPRUS OF PARISBy the Same Author THe Puantom Crivue NomaApDs oF THE NIGHT Tue New Terror THe Darx Roap Misstnc Men Tue Secret oF THE NIGHT Wolves or THE SEA ma TanHe realized with horror that he had surprised the most dangerous woman in Paris—‘The Octopus.” ROSETHE OCTOPUS OF PARIS BY GASTON LEROUX Author of “The Phantom Clue’ ete. NEW YORK EAE MACAULAY COMPANYPublished in England under the Title of “The Sleuth Hound.” COPYRIGHT, 1927, BY THE MACAULAY COMPANY ‘ ee ec er fer > se ee ‘ © * c < e ss c O 8 OF © G8 Sg . . ye Sh eae Gh €eeb & «4 e . s e c ‘ . “« Gg ¢. 8 . e . ** « eS @ €.8 « ee . » ® € 6 ‘ as ne er ‘ eee a © Kee @ - a a. « oe oe Ges oe « “6018 7 8 "oe Gen < * 46 © «¢ “e eiie . rel e ° ‘ ‘ Sx € t . ‘ ¢ 7 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DH POU Ua LAE erCHAPTER II III IV V VI vil Vill IX xX XI XII XIII XIV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXIT XXIII XXIV XXV CONTENTS In Wuicu “THE Octopus” Is MEN- TIONED FOR THE First TIME GCALLISTA . Oxajal THe Mipi AND CAMARGUE STIRRED Lou CABANOU . A PIECE OF Onincr @avocen! Ma- TERIAL EstTEVE In WHICH THE FATAL APPEARS ‘ HUBERT DE TeAuRiAc ‘ z BEWARE OF THE Octopus! . In WHICH ROULETABILLE EXPRESSES A DEFINITE Opinion ABOUT THE Muvr- DERER E i ROULETABILLE ON THE Areal EXPLANATIONS . : PANDORA SLEEPS . PANDORA’S INQUIRY « « ; ROULETABILLE JELLS A FEW SroRIES é A Dramatic INCIDENT . ‘ In WuicH MoNSIEUR CrousmiLan Dis- CoveRS THAT JOURNALISTS SOME- TIMES ‘‘HAvE Goon QUALITIES” THE MurRDERER : THE Book OF NorsTORs iConaiNwES to DrivutcE Its SECRETS . Jean VERSUS THE OcTOoPUS Jean ContTINUES His FIGHT WITH THE Octopus ; ROULETABILLE AND Gren Neier : In Wuicu Events CoME TO PASs AS ROULETABILLE FORETOLD OF THE Risks INCURRED BY A TRAVELER WITH Too FINE A BEARD SIGN AGAIN 120 135 140 146 156 167 178 185THE OCTORUS OF PARTS CHAPTER XXVI XXVIT XXVIII XXIX XXX XX XI XXXII XXXII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XX XIX XL XLI XLII XLII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVII XLVIII XLIX L LI LII LIII LIV LV “Wuo Courtp Say Ir SHE WereE AWAKE OR ASLEEP” THe Man WhHo KnockeED AT THE ine Door : In WHIcH Onay: Ai Is Sorry FOR TALK ING Too Mucu . In Wuicu O1ayjai Is STILL SORRY 1 FOR TALKING Too Mucu anp Takes His REVENGE BY TALKING More “Hep, Lirrir Zo!’ . IN Wuici THE Book oF ANCESTORS APPEARS ONCE More. THE MEETING . ‘TWIN ‘ACCOMPLICES “Don’t Worry” . “Hie Comes WHomM om Dip Nor Ex PECT” : ace uae Ug a ae At SEVER TURN i “It’s ALL ROULETABILLE’S Faurr” THE SCARECROW AND THE FLY A FicuHt . : A Dark PrRIson IN wHicH NIcoLAs STH URNESOL Raion Love : THE MIssinc AGE ‘ THE SIGN OF THE Crown . ODETTE AND ZINA . THE Kiss In THE Tomes. ‘ THE PATRIARCH’s First AND SECOND PLAN THE LIBRARIAN. : ONE Way In SEVER URN OF pes PATCHING A PRISONER “REVENGE Is SWEET” THE CHOICE . THE Octopus’ Joy CoRONATION Day . AN INTERRUPTION A Storm . : In WHuIcH RoULETABILLE Decwiens TuHat He Cannot Leave WitHout DHS DUG ete ee Rue PAGE 188 193 202 206 210 213 219 223 232 240 245 251 256 264 270 274 277 281 285 291 299 305 oi 316 321 325 326 3355THE OCLORUS OF PARTS CHAPTER LVI LVII LVIII LIX LX His ‘‘Dressinc-CAsE” AND WHAT CAME OF IT : ; : ROULETABILLE PLAys His Gunite : MIsERERE! MUsSERERE! ca In WuicH WE ARE Brocco Thee GETHER IN PARIS FOR A CONVERSATION In WuicwH We Are Broucut To- GETHER IN LAVARDENS FOR A CERE- MONY WuicH WiLL Not SurRpRISE THE READER a ee a In WuHIcH ROULETABILLE AND MADAME DE Meyrens INvITE THEIR FRIENDS TO) DINNER §% s\n ee ee PAGE 342 347 357 360 365 370DISTRO RUM rau Raa LEALTHE OCTOPUS OF PARISDOT Dou US Leena LRPTHE OCTOPUS OF PARIS Part I GHAPTE RS! IN WHICH “THE OCTOPUS” IS MENTIONED FOR THE FIRST TIME EAN DE SANTIERNE darted up the staircase J to Joseph Rouletabille’s flat at such a pace that despite his youth and devotion to every form of sport, he stopped a moment at the door out of breath. The famous journalist of the Epoque had lived during the last two years in this old house in the Faubourg Poissoniére to which he had retired after the tragic death of his wife. Jean rang the bell. Some time elapsed before the door was opened. At last a man servant appeared. He was a flat-faced man whom Rouletabille had brought back with him from the Balkans. Taciturn, with a perpetual look of gloom on his face he was a slave to orders. “Monsieur is not at home,” he declared. “Don’t talk nonsense, Olajai,” protested de Santierne in a tone of irritation. ‘I know that he’s here. Let me iting “Monsieur is not at home to anyone,” retorted the man. But de Santierne had already thrust him aside and with a masterful air opened the door of Rouletabille’s study. 910 THE OCTORUS Ob TPARTS He had no sooner entered it than he uttered a dull exclamation and stammered a confused apology. A woman was in the room which seemed to have been put to the sack. Books had been thrown to the floor in heaps ; partially opened letters and papers lay strewn here and there; the drawers of the desk seemed to have been forced; and yet de Santierne was less surprised by this extraordinary disorder than by the sight in that room of the woman who seemed to be the cause of it and to rule over it. She was not beautiful, but, as the saying goes, she was worse than beautiful. Still young, in the thirties, an uncommon face was crowned by a fringe which was cut straight across the forehead, covering it to the eyes which she blinked in the manner of shortsighted persons, and which held a disquieting light that stole with a seem- ing indifference over people and things. She was clad in a light gray tailor-made costume of perfect simplicity but faultless style. She cast a hostile glance on him and at once turned away, slipping behind the desk, and disappearing through a door which connected Rouletabille’s bedroom with his study. Quickly though she had fled, de Santierne had none the less recognized a form whose appearance in that room rooted him to the spot. “The Octopus!” he murmured with a catch in his breath. “The Octopus here! Ah, that explains many things.” When he had recovered his composure he went into the entrance hall and called Olajai. “How is it that the study is in this state? Is your master moving house?” “He will be back soon,” replied the man and left him without another word. Almost immediately afterwards, Rouletabille came to him in the study. He held out a somewhat feverish hand ; WRG De OO OU Utne ee nhe OCLOPUS’ [Si MENTIONED? =n made certain of the fastenings of the door, and asked him in the friendliest way what had brought him there. Such an effort of composure was merely on the surface. De Santierne was not the man to be deceived. “First let’s talk about yourself,’ he said. “What’s happened here? You must forgive me for forcing my way in.” “My dear Jean, I’m going to tell you something that I determined to keep from everyone, and I ask you, for the present, to regard it as a dead secret. To be frank, what has happened is that Rouletabille’s flat has been broken into.” “Broken into!” ge eae “I hope you know by whom and why.” “T have no idea and I can’t make it out.” “Rouletabille, when I came in just now,”’ went on Jean in a low voice, “I found a woman here and my presence seemed to embarrass her.”’ “Forget that you saw that woman,” returned Rouleta- bille in decisive tones. ‘“You’ve got to. No one must have seen that woman in my flat.” “For my part, I am particularly sorry to have seen her here,” returned Jean, sinking his voice. “Why are you sorry?” “On your account ... Madame de Meyrens here! Do you know what that woman used to be known as a “Yes,” returned Rouletabille with a smile that Jean did not like. “She has told me the story of her misfortunes.” “You mean the misfortunes of others! We called her ‘The Octopus.’ I hope that I am sufficiently your friend to say: JRouletabille, be on your guard. Where- ever that woman has shown her face disaster has followed. She has invariably left ruin and despair in her train. . . . At Vienna and Petrograd where she had access to the best society, for she had official support, she was said toLZ THE*OGLOPRUS OF PARIS be in government pay. She disappeared after the war. Some people even suggested that she was shot with her back to the wall in Schlusselberg. . . . And I came across her here, in your flat, as though she were at home, and a close friend of yours! Look here, Rouletabille, | know that during the last few months you have had a love affair, but I was far from suspecting that it was with her. . . . And yet now that you have told me of this burglary, nothing surprises me.” ‘Has she ever done you personally any harm?” “No, because when I was an attaché at the embassy the ambassador said to me: ‘Look out for yourself!’ At all events I hope that you are not in love with her!” “T?” returned Rouletabille. ‘Don’t worry. I loathe her.”’ “And she?” “She loathes me.” “Has it come to that?” “Yes, but let’s change the subject. Tell me what brought you here.” “Tell me first how you were burgled.” “l’m ashamed to tell you, but here goes! ... You are aware that I am in the habit of working late at the office. I scarcely ever get back here until two o'clock in the morning. Last night by chance I went to bed at ten o’clock. I felt tired, worn out, I can’t say why. I have even wondered since if anyone gave me a sleeping draught without my noticing it.” ‘Where and with whom did you dine?” “Calm yourself. Not with her, but here.” “Can you depend on your servant?” “As a matter of principle I never depend on anybody, but from the logical point of view I had to reject the idea of a drug. Even presuming that my man was in league with my burglars, it was to their interest to see me go out as soon as possible and not to keep me in ag tedabaseauelededstvenitar sponse pitas ctr aeeneaptan sr oTe Tote tenswit OCTOPUS? IS MENTIONED, 415 my own place even asleep. No: they were as greatly surprised to see me here as I was to see them. . . . Well, I went to bed. It might have been half-past twelve or one o'clock when I awoke. A strange noise, a continuous grating like that of a file on a lock, roused me from my torpor and suddenly I heard a creaking and after that nothing. “It seemed to me that some article of furniture had been forced with a jimmy. That was, perhaps, merely a delusion and the sound was naturally caused by the cracking of the wainscoting. I sat up in bed feeling rather limp. You know that I am not lacking in courage. Well, at night time I have often been as nervous as a child at the mysterious sounds which things make in the dark. “Perturbed, the perspiration breaking out on my tem- ples, I thrust my hand into ‘the drawer of my bedside table. My revolver was not there. I remembered leaving it in a pigeon-hole in my desk. The noises, as it happened, came from my study. They were being renewed; the grating sound began again; it grew more distinct and in the face of this unmistakable sound, I at once completely recovered my self-possession. “I slipped out of bed and cautiously opened the door of my room. A gleam of light flickered at the foot of the door leading to the entrance hall. I called to mind a knotted club which lay in the umbrella stand. I armed myself with it and put my ear to the study door. “I heard the whisper of voices in a language which I did not understand. My man sleeps on the floor above. I was alone against a gang who would not hesitate to lay violent hands on me. I determined to leave the flat if there was still time and warn the concierge; but at that moment the study door was opened, there were some ex- clamations of surprise quickly stifled and three men flew at my throat.14 THE OCLOPUS OF PAms “In no time, I was knocked down, gagged, carried into my bedroom, bound firmly with my bedclothes and rendered helpless. The men had, of course, switched off the light, but I had the consciousness that they were still moving round me. What was the nature of their job? Suddenly the front door bell rang and they made themselves scarce like a flight of villainous night birds. “Heavy blows with the fist were being rained on the door and I heard the stentorian voice of my friend La Candeur shouting: “‘Tt’s me! Open the door, Rouletabille. You're wanted at the office. We've tried to ring you up. Why have you left the receiver off? The editor is furious.’ ”’ “T for my part was fruitlessly straining every nerve to get free and to make myself heard. La Candeur went downstairs again cursing. On consideration, I was by no means sorry that he failed to see me in that plight. I, Rouletabille, to allow myself to be caught like that! I was ashamed, and annoyed. That was the feeling which was then uppermost in my mind. . . . My man released me this morning. I threatened him with jail if he ever breathed a word about it, and as far as you are concerned I feel certain that I can rely on you not to give me away.” “But after all, what does such an attempt mean?” asked Jean de Santierne, who forgot his own anxieties as he listened to Rouletabille’s extraordinary experi- ence. “Ah, that’s just it,” returned Rouletabille, making a sweeping gesture towards the study in disorder. “I have tried to find out. Those fellows obviously came here to steal certain papers, but what papers? I’ve been making an inventory, and can’t find that a single one is missing. It struck me for a moment that there was some connection between last night’s incident and my articles BOOED Pe Eo EL iH“THE OCTOPUS” IS MENTIONED 15 a couple of days ago on the trading scandals in Bengal, but the papers have not been tampered with... . It’s a mystery!” “Still, you must have some idea. Weren’t you able to catch a glimpse of those fellows?” “Ves, for a second, but you can bet they didn’t take long to switch off the light.” “What did they look like, your thieves?” “Like thieves. Far too much like thieves. Their faces were hideous, too hideous. Their clothes were too dirty ; their caps too awful.” “How did they get away?” “Over the balcony. The flat at this side is empty. They forced their way in by the back staircase. Here they sawed through a shutter and broke a pane of glass —it was quite easy!’ “Haven’t you informed the police?”