translate. Forgive me if I make any errors.’
Major Renard stared at both of them. He was small with an elegant goatee, combed and manicured into a silvery point. His white hair was brushed back to reveal a high forehead. His eyes were perched above a long, beak-like nose that dominated his face. When he spoke, Danilov was surprised to hear a high, excitable squeak rather than the deep voice he was expecting. The contrast was very disconcerting, like discovering the bull one had hired to service a field of cows was only interested in other bulls.
After a long speech in French, the Lieutenant began talking in his accented English. ‘The Major had asked for Chief Inspector Boyle to attend this meeting. You are not him. You are not even English.’
‘The Chief Inspector sends his apologies. Unfortunately, given the short notice, he is indisposed at this time.’
The Major grunted at this without it being translated.
‘I am Inspector Danilov and this is my assistant, Detective Constable Stra-chan.’
Again, the Major launched into a long speech in French. ‘The Major supposes that you will have to do but he is surprised the English Head of Detectives does not give this matter the attention it deserves,’ the Lieutenant translated.
‘It would be difficult to give it any sort of attention without knowing what it was.’ This time the Major turned to Masset for a translation. There was a brief discussion between the two of them before the Lieutenant continued. ‘To save the Major’s valuable time, he has authorised me to give you an outline of the matter.’
The Lieutenant brought his thumb, index and middle fingers together and blew as if moistening them before turning the pages of a book. Danilov thought it was a very interesting idiosyncrasy. The action of a clerk, rather than of a policeman.
‘This is a very difficult situation. There have been murders.’
‘Murder is unfortunately fairly common in all parts of the city. It is a problem we are facing all the time,’ said Danilov.
‘Monsieur, this is different. These are particularly brutal murders.’
The Lieutenant let his words lie on the table between them. The Major embarked on another long speech in French.
The Lieutenant continued speaking, but it was obvious to Danilov he was no longer translating. ‘In the French Garde Municipale, we believe the murderer comes from the International Settlement.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘A witness saw the murderer’s car leaving the scene of the crime. It had a number plate from your district.’
‘What was the number?’
‘The witness couldn’t remember. It all happened so fast you understand. He just knew the car was from the International Settlement.’
‘How can we assist the Garde Municipale?’
Lieutenant Masset blew on the ends of his fingers. ‘When I explain the murders to you, Inspector, then you will understand.’
Danilov leant back in his hard-back chair. The Major began another long speech in French. But before he could get into the flow of his speech, Danilov interrupted him.
‘
Je comprends que cette situation est vraiment importante, Monsieur le Chef, comment pourrait la Police Municipale de Shanghai vous aider?
’
Both the Lieutenant and the Major watched him in silence. Eventually, Major Renard said in English, ‘Your French is quite good, Monsieur.’
‘As is your English, Monsieur le Chef. Now we’ve got that out of the way, how can we help?’
The Major nodded at Masset. ‘We expect you to find the murderer and return him to us so that he may be put on trial. The honour of France is at stake.’
‘The honour of France?’
‘One of the victims was an official of the French government, killed without mercy. This ’orrible murder must not be left unpunished.’ The Major pronounced ‘horrible’ in a very French way.
‘And the other victim?’
‘A Russian prostitute. A woman of no consequence in society, but nonetheless we believe the murders are
Major Renard stared at both of them. He was small with an elegant goatee, combed and manicured into a silvery point. His white hair was brushed back to reveal a high forehead. His eyes were perched above a long, beak-like nose that dominated his face. When he spoke, Danilov was surprised to hear a high, excitable squeak rather than the deep voice he was expecting. The contrast was very disconcerting, like discovering the bull one had hired to service a field of cows was only interested in other bulls.
After a long speech in French, the Lieutenant began talking in his accented English. ‘The Major had asked for Chief Inspector Boyle to attend this meeting. You are not him. You are not even English.’
‘The Chief Inspector sends his apologies. Unfortunately, given the short notice, he is indisposed at this time.’
The Major grunted at this without it being translated.
‘I am Inspector Danilov and this is my assistant, Detective Constable Stra-chan.’
Again, the Major launched into a long speech in French. ‘The Major supposes that you will have to do but he is surprised the English Head of Detectives does not give this matter the attention it deserves,’ the Lieutenant translated.
‘It would be difficult to give it any sort of attention without knowing what it was.’ This time the Major turned to Masset for a translation. There was a brief discussion between the two of them before the Lieutenant continued. ‘To save the Major’s valuable time, he has authorised me to give you an outline of the matter.’
The Lieutenant brought his thumb, index and middle fingers together and blew as if moistening them before turning the pages of a book. Danilov thought it was a very interesting idiosyncrasy. The action of a clerk, rather than of a policeman.
‘This is a very difficult situation. There have been murders.’
‘Murder is unfortunately fairly common in all parts of the city. It is a problem we are facing all the time,’ said Danilov.
‘Monsieur, this is different. These are particularly brutal murders.’
The Lieutenant let his words lie on the table between them. The Major embarked on another long speech in French.
The Lieutenant continued speaking, but it was obvious to Danilov he was no longer translating. ‘In the French Garde Municipale, we believe the murderer comes from the International Settlement.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘A witness saw the murderer’s car leaving the scene of the crime. It had a number plate from your district.’
‘What was the number?’
‘The witness couldn’t remember. It all happened so fast you understand. He just knew the car was from the International Settlement.’
‘How can we assist the Garde Municipale?’
Lieutenant Masset blew on the ends of his fingers. ‘When I explain the murders to you, Inspector, then you will understand.’
Danilov leant back in his hard-back chair. The Major began another long speech in French. But before he could get into the flow of his speech, Danilov interrupted him.
‘
Je comprends que cette situation est vraiment importante, Monsieur le Chef, comment pourrait la Police Municipale de Shanghai vous aider?
’
Both the Lieutenant and the Major watched him in silence. Eventually, Major Renard said in English, ‘Your French is quite good, Monsieur.’
‘As is your English, Monsieur le Chef. Now we’ve got that out of the way, how can we help?’
The Major nodded at Masset. ‘We expect you to find the murderer and return him to us so that he may be put on trial. The honour of France is at stake.’
‘The honour of France?’
‘One of the victims was an official of the French government, killed without mercy. This ’orrible murder must not be left unpunished.’ The Major pronounced ‘horrible’ in a very French way.
‘And the other victim?’
‘A Russian prostitute. A woman of no consequence in society, but nonetheless we believe the murders are
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