to Dargelos, soon moves in with Paul and Elisabeth. Elisabeth is the first member of the group to get married. She weds a wealthy young man who dies on his way to a business meeting before the married couple can even enjoy their honeymoon. As a result of his death, the siblings inherit a large house, into which they move. Paul soon finds himself in love with Agathe. He writes a letter declaring his love to her and stakes his life on her reciprocation. Elisabeth, who cannot stand to see her brother happy and knows she must draw him back into their shared private world, intercepts the letter to prevent it from reaching Agathe and tells Agathe that Gerard is in love with her. Then, Elisabeth manages to bully Gerard, who is in love with her, into marrying Agathe and, as a result, helps break her brother’s heart. She feels herself condemned and pursued by the Furies thereafter, for the crime of having destroyed Paul and Agathe's happiness through deceit. After Agathe and Gerard's marriage, Gerard meets with Dargelos, who now collects poisons. Dargelos sends one of these poisons to Paul, who he knows is also a poison-enthusiast, as a gift. The poison is opium (to which Jean Cocteau, the author of this book, was himself addicted), and Paul takes most of it in despair over Agathe. As he lies dying, he is attended by Agathe, who, reviving Paul temporarily, confesses her love to him, and Elisabeth's plot is laid bare. At this moment, Elisabeth senses that Paul's death is yet another twist in the game and that, by dying, he would beat her to the final move, so she shoots herself and dies a matter of seconds before he does, leaving a frightened Agathe with two dead bodies. References 1929 French novels French novels adapted into films Works by Jean Cocteau Modernist novels Novels adapted into operas