Messengers of Evil: Being a Further Account of the Lures and Devices of Fantômas

"Messengers of Evil" by Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. It continues the adventures surrounding the enigmatic criminal Fantômas and his encounters with the police, focusing on a dramatic murder case that unfolds in a Parisian studio. Central to the narrative is the artist Jacques Dollon, who becomes embroiled in intrigue and suspicion after the death of his patroness, the Baroness de Vibray. At the start of the story, a shocking crime occurs: the Baroness is found dead in Dollon's studio, and he lies unconscious nearby under suspicious circumstances. The police superintendent soon arrives on the scene to investigate the chaotic tableau, revealing evidence of poison and signs of a struggle. As Dollon awakens and recalls being attacked by masked assailants, several layers of mystery unfurl, implicating him in the murder and linking him to a dark past. This opening sets the stage for a complex investigation that hints at deeper connections to previous crimes tied to Fantômas, establishing a tense atmosphere of suspicion and danger that captivates the reader.