‘Naturally. She’s got other things to think about than your rug, even without problems of the heart. And if you really want to know why I’d rather she stays close to here, it’s because I don’t like the turn of mind of
‘Oh, you really are the knight in shining armour, Marc. Even if you don’t have a horse. And what if Leguennec’s not entirely wrong? Have you thought of that?’
‘Of course I have.’
‘And?’
‘And it bothers me. There are some things I’d like to have cleared up.’
‘And you think that’s going to happen?’
Marc shrugged. ‘Why not? I asked her to come over here once she’s settled in. With the rather ignoble thought at the back of my mind that I might ask her some questions myself about the things that bother me. What d’you think?’
‘That’s bold and possibly painful, but the offensive could be an interesting one. Can I sit in on it?’
‘On one condition: that you stuff a flower in your rifle and say nothing.’
‘If it sets your mind at rest,’ said Lucien.
XXII
ALEXANDRA ASKED FOR THREE LUMPS OF SUGAR IN HER BOWL OF TEA. Mathias, Lucien and Marc listened to her as she told them how out of the blue-Juliette had said she was looking for a tenant for the garden house, that Kyril’s room was lovely, that the house itself was beautiful and full of light, that she could breathe easily in it, that there were plenty of books to read if she couldn’t sleep, that they could see the flowers from the windows and that Kyril liked flowers. Juliette had taken Kyril off to the restaurant to make some pastry. The day after tomorrow, Monday, he would go to his new school. And she would go to the police station. Alexandra frowned. What did Leguennec want with her now? She had told him everything she knew.
Marc thought this was the moment to launch the bold and painful man?uvre, but it didn’t seem such a good idea any more. He got up and sat on the table to give himself confidence. He had never been very good at sitting normally on a chair.
‘I think I know what he wants from you,’ he began, rather weakly. ‘I could put some questions to you, if you like, to give you a bit of practice.’
Alexandra raised her head with a start. ‘You want to question me too now, do you? So that’s what you all think, is it? You don’t trust me? You think I’m hiding something? Because of Aunt Sophia’s money?’ She had stood up. Marc took hold of her hand to stop her. The contact gave him a frisson in the pit of his stomach. Yes, he had certainly been lying to Lucien when he had said he didn’t want to pounce on her.
‘No, no, that’s not it at all,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you sit down and drink your tea. I could ask you in a friendly way the kind of thing Leguennec will ask brutally. Why not?’
‘I don’t believe you,’ said Alexandra. ‘But I don’t care, if you want to know. Go ahead and ask your questions, I’m not afraid of you or the others, or of Leguennec, I’m not afraid of anyone except myself. Go ahead, Marc. Settle your troubled mind.’
‘I’m going to cut some slices of bread,’ said Mathias.
Alexandra, her face showing strain, was leaning back on her chair and tipping it up.
‘Never mind,’ said Marc. ‘Don’t let’s bother.’
‘That’s my brave soldier,’ muttered Lucien.
‘No, go right ahead,’ said Alexandra. ‘I’m ready for your questions.’
‘Courage, soldier,’ whispered Lucien, walking behind Marc.
‘OK, then,’ said Marc in a dull voice. ‘OK. Leguennec will certainly ask you why you arrived here at just this moment, setting the investigation in motion again, and leading two days later to the discovery of your aunt’s body. If you hadn’t turned up, the case would have sat in the files, and everyone would have thought your Aunt Sophia was on some Greek island. And without a body, there’s no death, and without a death, there’s no inheritance.’
‘So what? I already told you. I came because Aunt Sophia suggested it to me. I needed to leave home. It wasn’t a secret from anyone.’
‘Apart from your mother.’
The three men all turned round towards the door where, once again, Vandoosler was standing, having come silently downstairs.
‘We didn’t invite you down,’ said Marc.
‘No,’ said Vandoosler. ‘You don’t often invite me down these days, but it doesn’t stop me intruding, you will observe.’
‘Oh, go away,’ said Marc. ‘What I’m doing is difficult enough as it is.’
‘Because you’re setting about it in a stupid way. You want to forestall Leguennec? To undo the knots before he gets there, and free the young lady? Well, if that’s your plan, at least do it properly. May I?’ he said to Alexandra, sitting down beside her.
‘I don’t seem to have any choice,’ said Alexandra. ‘If I have to, I’d prefer to be questioned by a real
‘Leguennec telephoned your mother. She knew you were coming to Paris. She knew the reason. Heartbreak, we call it, a sort of shorthand. Too small a word for what it stands for.’
‘You know all about broken hearts, do you?’ said Alexandra, who was still frowning.
‘Oh yes,’ said Vandoosler slowly. ‘Because I have caused some in my time. One rather serious one in particular. Yes, I do know about heartbreak.’
Vandoosler ran his hands through his black and white hair. There was a silence. Marc had rarely heard his uncle speak so simply and seriously. Vandoosler, his face calm, was quietly drumming his fingers on the table. Alexandra was watching him.
‘Let’s move on,’ he said. ‘Yes, I know the score on that one.’
Alexandra bowed her head. Vandoosler asked whether tea was compulsory, or whether one was allowed to drink something else.
‘That is to say,’ he went on, pouring himself a drink, ‘that I believe you when you say you ran away. I knew it was true from the start. Leguennec checked up, and your mother confirmed it. Since you had been on your own with Kyril for a year, you had been wanting to go to Paris. But what your mother did not know was that Sophia had agreed to put you up. You had told her you would go to friends.’
‘My mother has always been a bit jealous of her sister,’ Alexandra said. ‘I didn’t want her to think I was leaving her for Sophia, I didn’t want to risk hurting her. Us Greeks, you know, we imagine all kinds of things, and we like to. Or so my grandmother used to say.’
‘A generous motive,’ Vandoosler replied. ‘OK. Let’s go on to what Leguennec might be imagining. Alexandra Haufman, unhinged by distress, desperate for revenge…’
‘Revenge?’ whispered Alexandra. ‘What revenge?’
‘Don’t interrupt me, please. A policeman’s strength lies either in a long monologue that crushes the opposition, or in a rapid response that kills it dead. You should never deprive a policeman of these well-rehearsed pleasures. Or he might turn nasty. When you see Leguennec the day after tomorrow, don’t interrupt him. So, as I was saying, desperate for revenge, disillusioned, embittered, determined to find a way of getting on top, short of cash, envious of your aunt’s fortunate style of life, looking for a way to avenge your mother who has never succeeded, in spite of a few pathetic attempts at singing, now lost to memory, you plan to eliminate your aunt, and get your hands on a big share of the inheritance, through your mother.’
‘Brilliant,’ said Alexandra, through clenched teeth. ‘Didn’t I tell you already that I was very fond of Aunt
