A Servant of Satan: Romantic Career of Prado the Assassin

About this issue

This 1889 serial by Louis Bérard presents the confessional account of Prado, an assassin executed by guillotine in Paris. The narrative frames itself as notes written in prison by the criminal himself, communicated to the author on the eve of his execution. The story traces Prado's encounter with the narrator in Madrid in April 1880, when the narrator assists an elegant man injured in a carriage accident—Comte Linska de Castillon. Their friendship develops over two years, revealing Castillon as a sophisticated, multilingual traveler with knowledge of capital punishment across continents. Years later, the narrator learns this acquaintance is actually Prado, charged with robbery and the murder of Marie Aguetant. The narrator attends the trial, doubting Prado's guilt in this particular crime despite acknowledging other criminal acts. Before execution, Prado entrusts sealed notes detailing his true identity and history, requesting confidentiality until after his death and his elderly father's passing. The genre blends crime narrative with biographical confession, positioning the criminal as intelligent and pitiable rather than wholly despicable.

In this issue

• “A SERVANT OF SATAN: Romantic Career of PRADO the Assassin” by LOUIS BERARD · serial · p.11