The Murders at Impasse Louvain by Richard Grindal

Author:Richard Grindal [Grindal, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0312553439
Published: 2019-11-12T05:00:00+00:00

XIII

FROM A SHOP in one of the narrow streets around Montmartre, Gautier bought a bottle of red wine. He realized that not wishing to arrive at anyone’s house empty-handed was a typically bourgeois attitude and one which the bohemians of the Butte would scorn, but even so he had decided he must take something when he went to call on Claudine. This would be a way of showing her that he was coming on a social and not a professional visit He had chosen wine only after much thought – a gift of food might be resented, flowers misconstrued – and the choice of the wine itself had needed careful deliberation for an expensive wine would be ostentation, a vin ordinaire patronizing.

When Claudine opened the door to his knock and he handed her the bottle she said, though not unkindly: ‘Only a policeman would have brought wine. Have you no romance in you? Why not flowers?’

‘Well, I couldn’t share flowers with you, could I?’

‘Then you may drink your share while I begin sketching. You have come to pose for me, haven’t you?’

‘If you insist.’

She arranged her easel near the window where she would get the last of the early evening light and made him sit on a chair at a table carefully placed so that she could draw him in profile. Then setting the wine bottle and a glass on the table in front of him, she took a stick of charcoal and began sketching with swift, easy strokes.

‘How is the Hassler woman?’ she asked as she worked. ‘Has she found any more bearded men?’

‘You must be the only person in Paris who doesn’t know she’s in prison.’

‘As I told you, I don’t read newspapers. Is she going to be tried for the two murders?’

‘Not necessarily. She will be examined by the magistrate in charge of the case and on the basis of his findings it will be decided whether she should be put on trial.’

‘Does that mean you’ve finished working on the case?’

‘My God, no! Far from it! Loubet, the magistrate, is ordering numerous investigations to be made before he will even start examining the Hassler woman. All the enquiries we’ve made so far have to be checked and formal statements taken. We’re looking for more witnesses and for people who can be questioned on the woman’s character and past life; even people who knew her as a girl, neighbours, governesses, schoolfriends are being sought out and asked to testify. Two more inspectors have been assigned to help me on the case and even so we’ve far too much to do. It’s a policeman’s worst nightmare!’

‘How long will the examination take?’

Gautier explained that in complex criminal cases the ‘instruction’ as it was called, could stretch out over several weeks. Throughout this period a member of the Sûreté would have to collect the prisoner from prison each day and escort her to the Palais de Justice. Then, if she were put on trial, Gautier would almost certainly be required to give evidence.

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