hat and cane.

"What are you doing?" inquired Juve.

"I ... Why I'm going to clear out."

"How?... The King's apartment is surrounded by Secret Service men....
They take good care of His Majesty.... You were forgetting that!"

"That's true," said Fandor, depressed. "So now I am actually a prisoner.
Look here, Juve, what has become of this Frederick-Christian? Haven't
you any clue to follow?"

"No."

"He can't have vanished into thin air. We must find him if it is humanly
possible."

"That's my opinion, Fandor, but I am wondering how."

And then suddenly to each of them the same thought occurred.

Fantomas!

Was it not probable that the strange crime of which Susy d'Orsel was the
victim, the mysterious disappearance of the King, might be attributed to
this enigmatic and redoubtable bandit?

It would not have been the first time that the journalist and the
detective had put forth a similar hypothesis.

Fantomas had always symbolized the very essence of crime itself.

CHAPTER XI

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN STATIONS

On leaving Fandor, Juve walked up the Avenue Champs Elysees, refusing
the offers of various cab drivers. He felt the need of movement as an
antidote to his growing worry over the affair. On arriving at the Rue
Saussaies, Juve sent up his card to M. Annion and requested an immediate
interview. In a few moments he was shown into M. Annion's office.

"Well, what's new? What's the result of your investigation, Juve?"

"There is nothing much to report yet. The theory of suicide is possible,
although a crime may have been committed. Whether the King is involved
or not in this affair is still uncertain. It will take me a week at
least to find out."

"In other words, you know nothing yet. Well, I can tell you a few things
you don't know. Pass me those documents."

M. Annion looked through the papers and then continued:

"When Vicart saw you this morning he forgot to give you some of the
instructions I had charged him with.... I sent two of my men to the
Royal Palace Hotel.... Do you know what they found?"

"No, I haven't the least idea. There was nothing to learn at the Royal
Palace itself."

"On the contrary, they made an extraordinary discovery."

"What was it?"

"They discovered that the King is not the King. The individual who is
posing as Frederick-Christian II is an impostor. Rather sensational
news, isn't it?"

"So sensational that I don't believe it."

"And why not,