In the Shadows of Paris (The Predator Of Batignolles) by Claude Izner

Author:Claude Izner [Izner, Claude]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1250012104
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-10-29T04:00:00+00:00

As he reached Rue de la Lune, Joseph caught a delicious whiff of butter brioche and gave in to temptation. In the words of Monsieur Mori: ‘Empty stomach, empty head’.

He pushed his way through the swarming, bustling crowd on the Boulevard, zigzagging across streets teeming with packed omnibuses, long carriages piled high with parcels, hansom cabs with their oil-cloth hoods, and jittery hackney carriages. He loved the lively atmosphere, the cafés, the theatres. He let his imagination run wild: one day soon, one of his serialised novels would be adapted for the stage and play to full houses, catapulting him to stardom.

Thule’s Golden Chalice, featuring Réjane or Sarah Bernhardt as Frieda von Glockenspiel. As for Éleuthère the mastiff, that could wait. And why not have it performed at Théâtre du Gymnase? The play would cause such a sensation that everyone with a telephone would listen to extracts on the théâtrophone.46 Not to mention patrons of the smart clubs and guests at the grand hotels who could simply put fifty centimes into the magic box and enjoy the best lines.

He imagined Monsieur Mori, so keen on the latest inventions, with his ear glued to the receiver, nodding with delight as Éleuthère’s barks ascended the scale (could Monsieur Coquelin Cadet be persuaded to make himself up to look like a dog?).

Sated on brioche and daydreams, he reached Théâtre de l’Échiquier.

This doesn’t look very promising. It wouldn’t be my first choice, unless of course they offered me a nice fat advance, he told himself.

He walked across the foyer and knocked on a padded door with a sign saying CONCIERGE. A crabby voice rang out.

‘What is it now?’

‘I have a manuscript here to be delivered in person.’

There was a grating sound and a pointed nose poked warily through a crack in the door.

‘Do you have an appointment?’

‘Naturally. Joseph Pignot’s the name, author of Thule’s Golden Chalice, a sensational serialised novel soon to be printed in Le Passe-partout, which previously featured the outstanding The Strange Affair at Colombines.’

‘Who’s your appointment with?’

‘The manager.’

‘That’s impossible. Monsieur Leglantier has been dead since Monday.’

The nose was retracted and the door closed.

‘The silly old fool!’ Joseph declared loudly, somewhat taken aback. However, he was now in possession of a vital piece of information: the infamous actor referred to by the Comtesse de Salignac had shuffled off this mortal coil. Could it be through natural causes?

An alluring young woman rushed in through the main doors. He followed her into an Italianate auditorium, which was dimly lit apart from the stage, where a few oil lamps were burning. A group of men and women were having a lively discussion in front of a set designed for a swashbuckler. Joseph, hoping not to be noticed, slipped among them nonchalantly. To no avail.

‘You’re not part of the cast,’ a man declared.

‘I’m a journalist. I’m here to find out more about the death of your manager.’

‘You’re the first person besides his creditors to show any interest in poor Monsieur Leglantier,’ muttered the stage manager.

‘And yet he was such a nice man!’ affirmed the winsome young woman Joseph had followed.

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