"Regret keenly that you revealed your personality in such ridiculous circumstances, and that you failed to arrest a great criminal."
As Juve read these observations, he clinched his fists: he grew livid with rage!
Dinner was a mere farce to the two friends: they did not dine: they had no appetite! Juve and Fandor went over and over in their minds the deplorable events of which, all said and done, they were the victims. They gazed at each other full of self-pity. They felt they were two derelicts afloat on the immense sea of indifferent humanity.
"The worst suffering," said Fandor, with tears of misery in his voice, "is the pain of love."
"The most painful of wounds," said Juve bitterly, "is a wound to self-respect!..."
These two, men every inch of them, might have their moments of discouragement, but they were a sporting pair of the finest quality.
"Fandor!"
"Juve?"
"You are courageous?"
"I have courage, Juve!"
"Very well, my lad, let us sponge out the past, and start off afresh in pursuit of Fantômas!... I tell you the struggle has only begun.... Listen!..."
END
FOOTNOTES
[1] See Fantômas.
[2] See Fantômas.
[3] See The Exploits of Juve.
[4] See The Exploits of Juve.
[5] See The Exploits of Juve.
[6] Hooligan.
[7] See Fantômas.
[8] Stock Exchange.
[9] See The Exploits of Juve.
[10] Prison van.
[11] See Fantômas and The Exploits of Juve.