nter into your existence, not as
a judge, but as a comrade who is interested in all that concerns you.
Will you not confide in me? Once I know what there is to know we might
then unite our efforts to some purpose, and find out what really has
happened, since the mystery remains inexplicable."

Elizabeth Dollon felt the young man was sincere, and that what he said
in such a gentle voice was true.

This poor human waif asked no more than to be allowed to cling to
whoever would take pity on her and be kind. She now spoke to Jerome
Fandor of her childhood without suspecting in the least that the same
Jerome Fandor--Charles Rambert--used to play with her in those days.[7]

[Footnote 7: See _Fantomas_.]

She mentioned the assassination of the Marquise de Langrune--the first
tragic episode of her life; then had come the horrible death of her
father, old Steward Dollon, who had passed from the service of the
Marquise to that of the Baroness de Vibray, and then perished, the
victim of a criminal.

She explained how Jacques Dollon and she had come to settle in Paris,
feeling themselves rich on the savings they had inherited from their
parents. Elizabeth had become a dressmaker, and Jacques had become an
artist-craftsman. Gradually the young man's talent and industry had
enabled his sister to leave her workroom and come to live with him. His
reputation was a growing one, and the two young people looked forward to
an existence of honest comfort in the near future. They got to know some
people, one or two of whom were rich, and had shown their interest in
the brother and sister.

Jerome Fandor interrupted her:

"You always remained on good terms with the Baroness de Vibray?"

At this question the girl's eyes flashed:

"They have put into print shameful things about this poor dear Baroness,
and about my brother also. The papers have represented her as eccentric,
as mad; they have said worse things than that, you know that, don't
you?... They have declared that there was a very intimate relation
between her and my brother--I cannot say more--it is too hateful! It is
all false--as false as false can be! The Baroness was particularly
interested in Jacques, but assuredly that was owing to the long standing
relations between her family and ours.... The suicide of the Baroness
has been a sad addition to my grief, for I was very fond of her!..."

Fandor had been listening attentively to Elizabeth's story. He now said:

"You hav