‘I’m not carrying on, as you put it,’ said Lucien. ‘I’m rolling up my rug and I’m commenting on the present state of affairs. Lex-she said to call her Lex-wanted to get out of here, and yet she’s staying very nearby. Very near her Uncle Pierre, very near the epicentre of the drama. What’s she after? Unless that is,’ he said, straightening up, with the rug under his arm, ‘the whole Operation Eastern Base was dreamed up by you.’
‘Why would I do that?’ said Marc, defensively.
‘To keep an eye on her or to keep her within reach, take your pick. Personally I’d opt for the second. Anyway, congratulations. It seems to have worked.’
‘Lucien, you are really getting on my nerves.’
‘Why? You want her, that’s perfectly obvious. Well, look out, you’re going to get hurt again. You’re forgetting that we’re still up shit creek, and when that’s the case, you might slip. You have to go slowly, step by step. Certainly not go haring ahead like a madman. Not that I disapprove of a poor guy in the trenches having a bit of a distraction. Not at all. But Lex is too pretty, she’s too touching, and she’s too intelligent to be written off as a mere distraction. You’re not just going to have a bit of fun, you’re running the risk of being in love. That way madness lies, Marc, madness.’
‘What do you mean madness, you no-brain soldier?’
‘Because, you no-brain worshipper of courtly love, you suspect, just as I do, that Lex and her little boy have been chucked out or abandoned. Or something like that. So like an idiot knight on a white horse, you imagine that there’s a vacant place in her affections and that you can move in. Big mistake, let me tell you.’
‘Look, idiot of the trenches, I know more about empty hearts than you do. And I can tell you that the emptiness takes up much more space than when it’s occupied.’
‘You show remarkable lucidity for someone who stays behind the front line,’ said Lucien. ‘You’re not entirely stupid, Marc.’
‘Does that surprise you?’
‘Not at all. I’ve done a bit of snooping.’
‘I’m not installing Alexandra in the garden house next door because I want to pounce on her. Even if she does attract me. And who wouldn’t be attracted?’
‘Mathias for one,’ said Lucien, raising his finger in the air. ‘Mathias is attracted by the beautiful and brave Juliette.’
‘And you?’
‘As I told you, I move slowly and I observe. That’s all. For the moment.’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Maybe you’re right. It’s true that I’m not totally without feelings, or the urge to help. For instance, I suggested to Alexandra that she could keep my rug for the cabin if she wanted to. Answer: she couldn’t care less.’
‘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 Inspecteur en chef Leguennec, nor of my godfather, if it comes to that. They go fishing together, those two. Lex has been called in again for more questioning, the day after tomorrow. So I think we should be around, just in case.’
‘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 manœuvre, 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 flic, even if he’s bent, as you keep telling me, than by three pretend flics whose motives are more doubtful. Except for Mathias’ decision to cut some bread, which is a good idea. Go ahead, I’m listening.’