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Authors: Jean-François Parot
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draw lots for who was going to have the head. Yes, that’s what we did!’
Once he had eaten enough, Nicolas watched Catherine extinguish the stove and put the leftovers of the meal away in the sideboard. He smiled gratefully and wished her good night. He went up to his room and without undressing lay down on his bed before immediately falling into a deep sleep.
NOTES – CHAPTER II
1 . Saint-Florentin (1705–1777), Louis Phélypeaux, Comte, then Duc de la Villière, Minister of State in charge of the King’s Household, a department that included among its responsibilities the administration and the policing of the city of Paris.
2 . Cf. The Châtelet Apprentice.
III
THE WELL OF THE DEAD
‘Misfortunes often form a chain.’
R ACINE
Wednesday 24 October 1761
Nicolas was woken by a scraping sound. After looking at his watch he realised that it was Catherine, placing a jug of hot water outside his bedroom door. She had done this every morning since her first day at Monsieur de Noblecourt’s house. She had probably decided to let Nicolas sleep in a little. It was already past seven o’clock. Since his earliest childhood he had got up at six, winter and summer alike: as a boy, whilst barely awake he would serve Mass for the canon, his guardian, in the cold and damp of the collegiate church of Guérande.
He discovered to his amusement that he had slept fully clothed. Fortunately his wardrobe had increased considerably since his arrival in Paris. His tailor, Master Vachon, who also dressed Monsieur de Sartine, had seen to that. Nicolas fondly recalled the green coat, originally made for another customer, that he had worn at Versailles on being first presented to the King.
He felt refreshed and full of energy until the events of the previous day suddenly came flooding back. A rare moment of early morning happiness gave way to the preoccupations of thehunter planning the chase. He noticed his tricorn on the floor. Fortunately he had not slept with it on, as that was said to bring bad luck. This fleeting observation stirred some vague memories that he could not quite pin down. Bare-chested, he had a thorough wash in the water that was already cold. In the summer he used the pump in the courtyard and splashed the water all over himself, but now autumn with its early morning chill was on the way. He reminded himself of what he had to do.
First he must go to the Hôtel de Gramont and give Sartine a detailed account of what had happened since his departure the previous evening. Perhaps his superior would be able to clarify how those in high places wanted the case to be handled. It was even possible that they might not want it dealt with at all. He must prepare himself for an encounter with a very angry Lieutenant General of Police.
Then he would quickly return to the Châtelet. He muttered to himself about the inconveniently long distance between the two most important police buildings, a situation that, in his opinion, slowed down work. Inspector Bourdeau would be dispatched to Grenelle to take a fresh look at the scene of the crime and to enquire about the existence of a duplicate key to the vicomte’s bedroom. He wondered whether his deputy had already begun to open up the body with Sanson, the public executioner. Nicolas felt slightly uncomfortable about calling on Sanson’s skills and experience, as it was not normal procedure, but he was only too aware of the routine methods and incompetence of the forensic doctors attached to the Châtelet. So he preferred to do things this way, enabling dreadful discoveries to be kept secret.
Nicolas would also have to discuss with Bourdeau thearrangements for his meeting with the stranger in the church of the Discalced Carmelites. He was increasingly convinced that Madame de Ruissec was the author of the note.
Lastly, it would be useful to go fishing for information about the vicomte amongst his superiors and fellow officers in the French Guards.
Satisfied by this plan of
Once he had eaten enough, Nicolas watched Catherine extinguish the stove and put the leftovers of the meal away in the sideboard. He smiled gratefully and wished her good night. He went up to his room and without undressing lay down on his bed before immediately falling into a deep sleep.
NOTES – CHAPTER II
1 . Saint-Florentin (1705–1777), Louis Phélypeaux, Comte, then Duc de la Villière, Minister of State in charge of the King’s Household, a department that included among its responsibilities the administration and the policing of the city of Paris.
2 . Cf. The Châtelet Apprentice.
III
THE WELL OF THE DEAD
‘Misfortunes often form a chain.’
R ACINE
Wednesday 24 October 1761
Nicolas was woken by a scraping sound. After looking at his watch he realised that it was Catherine, placing a jug of hot water outside his bedroom door. She had done this every morning since her first day at Monsieur de Noblecourt’s house. She had probably decided to let Nicolas sleep in a little. It was already past seven o’clock. Since his earliest childhood he had got up at six, winter and summer alike: as a boy, whilst barely awake he would serve Mass for the canon, his guardian, in the cold and damp of the collegiate church of Guérande.
He discovered to his amusement that he had slept fully clothed. Fortunately his wardrobe had increased considerably since his arrival in Paris. His tailor, Master Vachon, who also dressed Monsieur de Sartine, had seen to that. Nicolas fondly recalled the green coat, originally made for another customer, that he had worn at Versailles on being first presented to the King.
He felt refreshed and full of energy until the events of the previous day suddenly came flooding back. A rare moment of early morning happiness gave way to the preoccupations of thehunter planning the chase. He noticed his tricorn on the floor. Fortunately he had not slept with it on, as that was said to bring bad luck. This fleeting observation stirred some vague memories that he could not quite pin down. Bare-chested, he had a thorough wash in the water that was already cold. In the summer he used the pump in the courtyard and splashed the water all over himself, but now autumn with its early morning chill was on the way. He reminded himself of what he had to do.
First he must go to the Hôtel de Gramont and give Sartine a detailed account of what had happened since his departure the previous evening. Perhaps his superior would be able to clarify how those in high places wanted the case to be handled. It was even possible that they might not want it dealt with at all. He must prepare himself for an encounter with a very angry Lieutenant General of Police.
Then he would quickly return to the Châtelet. He muttered to himself about the inconveniently long distance between the two most important police buildings, a situation that, in his opinion, slowed down work. Inspector Bourdeau would be dispatched to Grenelle to take a fresh look at the scene of the crime and to enquire about the existence of a duplicate key to the vicomte’s bedroom. He wondered whether his deputy had already begun to open up the body with Sanson, the public executioner. Nicolas felt slightly uncomfortable about calling on Sanson’s skills and experience, as it was not normal procedure, but he was only too aware of the routine methods and incompetence of the forensic doctors attached to the Châtelet. So he preferred to do things this way, enabling dreadful discoveries to be kept secret.
Nicolas would also have to discuss with Bourdeau thearrangements for his meeting with the stranger in the church of the Discalced Carmelites. He was increasingly convinced that Madame de Ruissec was the author of the note.
Lastly, it would be useful to go fishing for information about the vicomte amongst his superiors and fellow officers in the French Guards.
Satisfied by this plan of
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