imposter?’
‘Non,’
he replied. ‘I know this man. I’ve seen him at morecourt appearances than I can count. His name is Depaul. He’s genuine.’
‘Then who was the first man you allowed to see Gaston?’
‘He gave his name as Lucien Menard. I made some enquiries. No one has ever heard of him.’
‘Then who is he?’
Bessette looked almost sick. ‘I think I know,’ he confessed uncomfortably. ‘You were there just after Verne was shot. Did you notice the two men who immediately came to his aid?’
‘Oui
. I spoke to one of them at Gare du Nord, when we arrived yesterday afternoon.’
‘You have heard of Sherlock Holmes, of course?’
‘Of course.’
‘He was one of them. The other was a man called Watson. His companion, I believe.’
‘Are you
sure
?’
‘I checked the witness statements.’ He paused, then said: ‘Do you think Verne has engaged this man Holmes to investigate the matter?’
‘I cannot think why. We have been careful to observe complete secrecy throughout. He would have had no call to engage a detective. As far as he is concerned, the matter is cut and dried. But I have to confess, I do not care for this man Holmes’s interference.’
Suddenly she turned a little. She was now facing Bessette directly, the anger in her eyes making him flinch. ‘You fool!’ she hissed. ‘You have been uncommonly stupid.’
‘How was I to know –?’
‘Absalon expects us to know
everything
,’ she reminded him.
It was true.
‘I can take care of it,’ he said timidly.
‘You will do nothing,’ she snapped. ‘Do you understand me? You will do nothing until I have referred the matter to a higher authority. Sherlock Holmes is known throughout Europe. Toattack him will only draw attention to us – attention we can certainly do
without
.’
‘But what about Gaston? May I assume he has outlived his purpose?’
‘Assume nothing!’ she said, rising. ‘Just await my orders.’
‘Very well.’
‘I will contact you by the usual means, and under the usual alias, when I know more – probably before the end of today.’
‘I’ll be waiting,’ he promised. He watched as she walked away. He now needed a drink more than ever.
CHAPTER TEN
A Bodyguard for Verne
W hen Honorine ushered Holmes and Watson into the sitting room that same afternoon, they found her husband resting on a chaise longue in the bay window with his bandaged left leg resting on a stool. ‘You will forgive me if I do not rise,’ he said, weakly extending his right hand.
They shook hands with him and then, at Verne’s urging, took seats.
‘How are you feeling, sir?’ Watson asked.
‘I am alive. What more can I ask for?’
‘And Gaston? Have you heard how he is?’
‘We have sent Jules’s lawyer to represent him,’ put in Honorine. ‘Our hope is that he can convince Inspector Mathes that what happened was merely a silly misunderstanding, and allow him to be returned to the Sanatorium de Russy.’
Holmes narrowed his eyes. ‘When did you dispatch your lawyer?’
‘I believe he went down to the police station shortly before lunch.’
Holmes and Watson exchanged a look.
‘Forgive me, gentlemen, but is something wrong?’
‘M’sieur Verne,’ said Holmes. ‘For reasons I do not yet understand , I believe your life to be in danger.’
‘Mine?’ Verne gave a short, mirthless laugh. ‘I have the greatest respect for your talents, as you know, but I cannot see why that would possibly be.’
‘Nevertheless, I should be grateful if you would exercise the greatest caution until the matter is resolved.’
‘What matter?’
‘That, I cannot say. But I have strong reason to believe that Gaston was acting under duress when he made his attempt upon you yesterday.’ He paused, allowing his words to sink in, then stared questioningly at Verne. ‘Can you think why that should be?’
‘
Non
.’
‘Is there anyone, man or woman, you know who might be driven to such lengths?’
‘
Non
. I
‘Non,’
he replied. ‘I know this man. I’ve seen him at morecourt appearances than I can count. His name is Depaul. He’s genuine.’
‘Then who was the first man you allowed to see Gaston?’
‘He gave his name as Lucien Menard. I made some enquiries. No one has ever heard of him.’
‘Then who is he?’
Bessette looked almost sick. ‘I think I know,’ he confessed uncomfortably. ‘You were there just after Verne was shot. Did you notice the two men who immediately came to his aid?’
‘Oui
. I spoke to one of them at Gare du Nord, when we arrived yesterday afternoon.’
‘You have heard of Sherlock Holmes, of course?’
‘Of course.’
‘He was one of them. The other was a man called Watson. His companion, I believe.’
‘Are you
sure
?’
‘I checked the witness statements.’ He paused, then said: ‘Do you think Verne has engaged this man Holmes to investigate the matter?’
‘I cannot think why. We have been careful to observe complete secrecy throughout. He would have had no call to engage a detective. As far as he is concerned, the matter is cut and dried. But I have to confess, I do not care for this man Holmes’s interference.’
Suddenly she turned a little. She was now facing Bessette directly, the anger in her eyes making him flinch. ‘You fool!’ she hissed. ‘You have been uncommonly stupid.’
‘How was I to know –?’
‘Absalon expects us to know
everything
,’ she reminded him.
It was true.
‘I can take care of it,’ he said timidly.
‘You will do nothing,’ she snapped. ‘Do you understand me? You will do nothing until I have referred the matter to a higher authority. Sherlock Holmes is known throughout Europe. Toattack him will only draw attention to us – attention we can certainly do
without
.’
‘But what about Gaston? May I assume he has outlived his purpose?’
‘Assume nothing!’ she said, rising. ‘Just await my orders.’
‘Very well.’
‘I will contact you by the usual means, and under the usual alias, when I know more – probably before the end of today.’
‘I’ll be waiting,’ he promised. He watched as she walked away. He now needed a drink more than ever.
CHAPTER TEN
A Bodyguard for Verne
W hen Honorine ushered Holmes and Watson into the sitting room that same afternoon, they found her husband resting on a chaise longue in the bay window with his bandaged left leg resting on a stool. ‘You will forgive me if I do not rise,’ he said, weakly extending his right hand.
They shook hands with him and then, at Verne’s urging, took seats.
‘How are you feeling, sir?’ Watson asked.
‘I am alive. What more can I ask for?’
‘And Gaston? Have you heard how he is?’
‘We have sent Jules’s lawyer to represent him,’ put in Honorine. ‘Our hope is that he can convince Inspector Mathes that what happened was merely a silly misunderstanding, and allow him to be returned to the Sanatorium de Russy.’
Holmes narrowed his eyes. ‘When did you dispatch your lawyer?’
‘I believe he went down to the police station shortly before lunch.’
Holmes and Watson exchanged a look.
‘Forgive me, gentlemen, but is something wrong?’
‘M’sieur Verne,’ said Holmes. ‘For reasons I do not yet understand , I believe your life to be in danger.’
‘Mine?’ Verne gave a short, mirthless laugh. ‘I have the greatest respect for your talents, as you know, but I cannot see why that would possibly be.’
‘Nevertheless, I should be grateful if you would exercise the greatest caution until the matter is resolved.’
‘What matter?’
‘That, I cannot say. But I have strong reason to believe that Gaston was acting under duress when he made his attempt upon you yesterday.’ He paused, allowing his words to sink in, then stared questioningly at Verne. ‘Can you think why that should be?’
‘
Non
.’
‘Is there anyone, man or woman, you know who might be driven to such lengths?’
‘
Non
. I
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