A Royal Prisoner

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27789

Title

A Royal Prisoner

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this thrilling installment of the Fantômas series, detective Juve races against time to stop the master criminal from stealing a priceless diamond from the King of Hesse-Weimar. Blending high-stakes espionage with Parisian nightlife, the novel delivers a fast-paced mystery filled with disguises, betrayals, and a shocking twist that redefines the nature of the villain himself.

Summary up to 500 words

In *A Royal Prisoner*, Detective Juve and reporter Jerome Fandor investigate the mysterious disappearance of King Frederick-Christian II of Hesse-Weimar, who vanishes while visiting Paris. The King's official mistress, Susy d'Orsel, is found dead, and the royal red diamond goes missing. Juve discovers that the monarch has been kidnapped by the infamous criminal Fantômas, who uses the King to locate the hidden gem. The narrative oscillates between the King's terrifying imprisonment in a damp underground cell and the elaborate social intrigues of the French court. Fantômas, operating under various disguises including the seemingly innocent Mme. Ceiron and the charming Marquis de Sérac, manipulates the King into revealing the diamond's location, threatening to execute him unless he surrenders the secret. Meanwhile, Juve navigates a web of deceit involving the Queen, court officials, and adventuresses. He uncovers that the Grand Duchess Alexandra is actually the adventuress Lady Beltham, who possesses the diamond. However, the situation takes a dramatic turn when Juve is arrested by the very authorities he serves. Police officials, led by M. Annion, are convinced that Juve is Fantômas himself, a conclusion based on circumstantial evidence and a lack of trust in the detective's integrity. In a climactic scene at the train station, Juve attempts to arrest Lady Beltham and recover the diamond, only to be seized by his own guards. The diamond is taken from his waistcoat pocket, and he is dragged away as a prisoner. The novel ends with Juve crying out his innocence as the King departs, leaving the detective in the hands of the very system he protects. The story highlights themes of identity, the fragility of truth, and the relentless, often unjust, pursuit of justice in a world where appearances can be deceiving.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg27789.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery