He says that all will end badly, desecrating the burial chambers of the Incas like Tutankhamen's – five members of the expedition have already been mysteriously struck down.

Tintin and Snowy go to Marlinspike Hall where Captain Haddock lives, and they meet Nestor the butler.

Haddock introduces their old friend Professor Calculus, and then tries to show Tintin a magic trick to turn water into whisky, which fails.

That evening at the music hall, Tintin and Haddock watch a performance by the opera singer Bianca Castafiore, which Snowy turns into an impromptu duet.

Tarragon reveals the mummy of Rascar Capac, and Tintin reads the prophecy that the expedition found in his tomb.

A storm comes, a ball of lightning comes down the chimney, destroys the mummy, and Bergamotte realises that the prophecy is true.

Tintin, Haddock and Snowy manage to escape and head to the docks, where they discover that Calculus has been spotted on the ship «Pachacamac» and is going to Peru.

They mistake the indications given by the pendulum, and travel to the North Pole and meet an eskimo, to the Far East, and to Scotland.

They are blindfolded, and the Grand Inca declares that their punishment for profaning the temple is to die at the stake, but grants them one last wish: they are allowed to choose the day and hour of their deaths.

Back in Peru, the Grand Inca adopts Zorrino, and as everyone comes home in Brussels together, the cast takes their bows.

The cast was to remain the same as for Charleroi, with the exception of Frayne McCarthy (Haddock) being replaced by Patrick Rocca.

Tickets were sold in advance and a CD was produced (featuring the Belgian cast), a stripped-down version of the Charleroi release.

It was a major blow to everyone involved: thousands of ticket-buyers had to be refunded, the CD had already been launched and a huge media campaign had to be cancelled (which would have incorporated amongst others France 2, RTL and Télérama).

Owing to the risk taken – and arguably demonstrating foresight on behalf of the management – the actors' contracts stipulated they would not be paid until the show had been performed.

Tabas&Co and Moulinsart had chosen the wrong business partners, yet the Paris affair did not spell the permanent end of the show.

Moulinsart is reportedly examining the feasibility of launching the show in other countries, with the Dutch city of Rotterdam apparently being considered.