The Perfume of the Lady in Black

Gaston Leroux wrote The Perfume of the Lady in Black, whose Chapter VII is headed Which Tells of Some Precautions Taken by Joseph Rouletabille to Defend the Fort of Hercules Against the Attack of an Enemy. The text speaks of a strange dinner, a strange castle and strange guests, with the spectre of Larsan hovering about the festivities.

Rouletabille says they may make their plans here in tranquillity, and says a sentinel is stationed in the very middle of the court, hidden in the ruins of the chapel, with the gardener, Mattoni, placed at that point, speaking to M. Rance. After the arrival of the medical men, Mme. Edith comes from the tower and says that Old Bob is solid as a rock and was trying to steal Prince Galitch's skull which he believed to be more ancient than his own. The text says that even if the personality of Brignolles were not another of Larsan's disguises, the laboratory assistant was nevertheless a miserable wretch.