The Gaston Leroux Library

In which Theophrastus Longuet contemplates the curious wax mask moulded from the features of the infamous Cartouche, stirring within him a complex mingling of dread, compassion, and a pondering on the nature of reincarnation and the soul's evolution. As he revisits old haunts and memories entwined with Cartouche's dark past, he wrestles with the duality of his own existence, even jesting at the irony of his plight amid the bustling modern life of Paris.

In which Theophrastus and Marceline seek respite at Azure Waves Villa while awaiting Adolphe’s arrival, who brings news and revelations concerning the enigmatic figure known as the Child. Their afternoon by the Marne is punctuated by a lively account of youthful escapades, brushes with misfortune, and the curious intertwining of fact and legend surrounding the man called Cartouche.

In which the honest cabman Theophrastus Longuet is confounded by the mysterious possession of numerous stolen items, stirring doubts and dark dreams that hint at a deeper, unfathomable misfortune. His encounter with an ominous portrait and an enigmatic friend deepens the shadow of the past over his present, compelling him to confront secrets best kept from his beloved Marceline.

In which a small assembly of friends—Theophrastus, Marceline, and the erudite Adolphe—delve into mysteries of heredity and soul through a curious analogy of a black feather, seeking enlightenment before embarking on a treasure hunt beneath Paris. Their philosophical musings are mingled with a quaint episode of high society and sudden pilfering that casts an unexpected, if amusing, light upon the veracity of appearances.

In which Theophrastus Longuet, beset by bewildering experiences and an enigmatic document, confides his strange ordeal to his wife Marceline and contemplates the curious nature of his purported former self. Together with the insightful but astonished Adolphe Lecamus, they explore the mysteries of character and handwriting, pondering the interplay of goodness and ambition across time.

In which Theophrastus Longuet, a retired rubber stamp maker, discovers a mysterious eighteenth-century scrap of paper bearing his own handwriting, igniting his curiosity about a past life and the secrets it holds. Amidst learned discourse on transmigration and reincarnation, he unexpectedly bursts into a raucous song at a garden party, revealing a hidden passion that startles his companions.

In which a pragmatic rubber stamp maker named Theophrastus Longuet, a man of sound mind and sceptic of the supernatural, recounts a peculiar and unsettling experience during a visit to the ancient Conciergerie that challenges his steadfast adherence to reason. Amidst the dark, timeworn stone corridors and haunted history, he discovers a mysterious scrap of paper written in his own handwriting, buried behind centuries-old walls, setting the stage for an enigmatic tale.

In which M. Theophrastus Longuet, accompanied by his charming wife and steadfast friend Adolphe, embarks upon a visit to the ancient and somber Conciergerie, seeking to enliven his mind through a tour of historical monuments dense with the echoes of past grandeur and tragedy. Their impressions shift from mild disappointment to uneasy intrigue as an extraordinary and mysterious incident unfolds within the shadowy recesses of the prison’s ancient cellars.

In which a sombre visitor delivers a mysterious sandalwood box to the narrator, professing it to be the bequest of the late Theophrastus Longuet, and then vanishes as enigmatically as he appeared. The narrator, initially wearied by the contents, soon finds himself drawn into a tale of such extraordinary nature that scepticism gives way to curious belief.