Monsieur Lecoq (1914)

The Duke of Sairmuse weds Blanche Courtleigh. Shortly alter she is blackmailed for money by a band of ruffians, who threaten to inform the Duke that her brother is a hardened convict. Wild with anxiety she decides to meet the blackmailers and strive to effect a compromise. Her husband, suspicious of her actions, follows her and has one of the gang try to steal her earrings. He breaks in and in a struggle kills them. He is disguised in old clothes to save his wife's honor and holds off the police until she escapes. Monsieur Lecoq, the famous detective, captures the Duke, but to protect his wife he keeps silent. The famous detective tries various devices to entrap the nobleman and learn his real identity, but it is useless. At last they permit him to escape and follow him to his home. While the Duke's faithful servant, Ott, is parleying with the sleuth, the Duke changes his clothes and confronts him in his natural guise. Baffled, the hound of the law departs. The Duke discharges Otto, giving him a large sum of money to avert suspicion. Meanwhile, husband and wife have reached an understanding and forgetting the past endeavor to regain their former happiness. A short time later the Duke receives a letter purporting to come from his servant and requesting a further loan. It is presented by a ragged individual, and while the nobleman is making out a check the bearer strips off his disguise and stands revealed as Lecoq. He explains, it has been absolutely necessary for him to clear up the mystery, and as Sairmuse has delivered society of three evil-doers, the matter may be dropped. Thus the reputation of the famous detective has been vindicated and husband and wife are left to renew their happy alliance.