French gendarmerie.
As we climbed the front steps, a short man of about sixty, whose hair and small goatee were as white as his skin, came to greet us. He was accompanied by a man who looked almost identical â same build, same pointed beard â but with slightly blonder hair, and twenty years younger. Behind him, a bald, plump individual was talking to a gendarme in the entrance hall.
âSuperintendent Fourier I presume?â said the pale man. âIâm Judge Breteuil and Iâve been appointed by the Versailles prosecutorâs studyto handle this sad affair. Let me introduce Monsieur Bezaine, my clerk. Oh, and this is Monsieur dâArnouville, the prosecutorâs deputy, who was just leaving, and Second Lieutenant Rouzé, from the local gendarmerie.â
He indicated the two men from the hall who, having seen us, had come out on to the steps to join us.
âMonsieur, let me thank you for sending a car to the station,â said the superintendent to the examining magistrate.
âMonsieur Breteuil considered, quite rightly, that it was essential for you to reach the château as quickly as possible,â the prosecutorâs deputy interjected with feigned politeness.
âIt would certainly have been a pity if weâd lost our way.â
âI was given to understand this morning that the police were about to open a new investigation into the death of this Pierre Ducros,â continued the deputy. âThe press is so powerful nowadays it can influence the decisions of the Seine public prosecutorâs studyand the Préfecture!â
âI was under the impression that the Versailles prosecutorâssudden volte-face was similarly influenced by the publication of a certain article.â
âIf youâre alluding to the decision to open a judicial inquiry into the affair which brings us here, youâre wrong. The public prosecutor never intended to close the case and he does not allow himself to be dictated to by anyone, especially not journalists.â
âThat is all to his credit.â
âOne thing is certain â the police donât need another scandal.â
âNeither does the justice system.â
âOh! But we havenât reached that point yet, gentlemen!â the examining magistrate intervened, fearing that tensions were rising. âBefore you arrived, Superintendent, we â the prosecutorâs deputy, Second Lieutenant Rouzé and myself â were discussing the article published in Paris-Soir . At the moment, the press is doing everything it can to create a scandal. By the way, do we know who this J.L. is?â
âHis name is Jacques Lacroix. No one has seen him at the newspaperâs offices in Rue du Louvre or at his home since Tuesday. Itâs a pity. I have a great deal to say to him. Weâll soon track him down though.â
âWould it be indiscreet to ask your opinion of the two deaths, Superintendent Fourier?â asked the prosecutorâs deputy.
âWell, Iâm only here to investigate the death of the poor Marquis! And my investigations are only just beginning. It would surely be more instructive to hear Monsieur Rouzéâs point of view since heâs been involved in the Brindillac case all along?â
The gendarme opened his mouth to speak but Fourier had not finished and turned to me.
âBy the way, allow me to introduce Monsieur Andrew Fowler Singleton. Monsieur Singleton and his associate, Monsieur Trelawney, who is currently detained in London, helped the French police with a case that was in the news last year.â
âSingleton! Trelawney! Yes, of course, I remember it well!â exclaimed the examining magistrate. âYour names certainly made the papers at the time. I didnât realise you were so young though.â
After his initial enthusiasm, the magistrateâs face darkened, as he reflected that, all things considered, my presence would