After se+ven
teen years in prison , the former respected Parisian \b#*anker Paul_ Lav,on!d flees w\@ith his $+friend), t$he lunatic sci-*e _n+ti!] s]^_t M,!$arcel that is rese
^-arch?!=/)ing wit.(]h his wif`# %%e Malita the min[?@iaturi;zat ;(ion of  animals and hum/%an beings to imp]@rove th#;e reso^#urces of mankind. Paul L)avond wa@s framed for %)robbery ]by his,? scound*`re.=l ] associ^+ates Emil Cou^\;(lvet, Charle(s Matin an$d Vic;tor Radin that h_/ad st`#olen his /:busin $]ess %? @while%\ hi-;%(s family wa;-s? d_(o]omed to sh/a`me, poverty and tr
_`a#_gedy. Whe: n Marcel reduces th*=)e retarded serv[*\ant  ?.L-,achn.^a, he l-ea_ rns tha@ t the woman (^is motionless and onl^#y -re
*s*(ponds  to th_e/ control of ;(
,his bra in and has a ;@h!)[?ear ^t$#=@ atta ck$. A;f(-ter the d,?eat[h o@@%f Marcel =, Paul Lavond sees
the c@han_)?ce to us+e th.e miniaturiz (ation ;p?$rocess a_s +^inst )rume=nt of veng=-ean[ ,\ce an#d he travels %\to Paris with ]$[#t[ he insane Malita d+@)isguis$ed of Mad am]*[e Mandili*;p, a
/ nice; old lady and owner of:[+ a d$:oll !s stor, $e. Pa
[ ul Lavond, using the identity of` M=ada_ =me#/_ Mandilip, be*;friends hi*s r/+ese.@`n]*ted and estranged daug` [hter Lorrai.$ne Lav@ond and plots a scheme to revenge and v=:in@.:dicate his fa_+mil#.y); #n]ame.