125 rue Montmartre Page #4

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I had you called.

You've done well, thank you.

Pardon, I was at dinner at the Brassac's...

..of The Academy, and Madame.

It was sleep-inducing.

Those intellectuals talk their heads off.

Everything's covered: Gallo-Roman

architecture with the lobster...

...Montherlant with the cheese...

...and when the phone rang

they were on about Mozart...

...and fresh fruit.

Ah, tell me, doctor...

...to what extent is Death your client?

My client?

You're going a bit far.

Multiple wounds to the head

caused by a blunt object.

Skull fracture,

low external bleeding.

Death would have been

about three quarters of an hour ago.

No sign of a struggle.

A quick and easy death

You didn't find the murder weapon?

Yes... pardon,

that's my job.

Well, thanks doctor.

My respects.

Are you in support of the 8-hour day?

I'm often asked.

- Superintendent

- Good evening all.

Who's the lady?

The widow.

Madame,

please accept my condolences.

Superintendent Dodelot.

I don't want to have to bother you

in this hour of grief.

Thank you monsieur.

Unfortunately, my duty requires it.

Yours too, for that matter.

Neither one of us would disagree...

...that this dreadful deed remained unpunished.

Let me say...

...do you know drama?

In the end it'll be solved.

I was just about to go to bed.

I was here when I heard a noise in the garden.

Specifically

at the bottom gate.

I turned out the light...

Yes, I think I turned out the light.

I saw the light under that door.

I was terrified...

and I called the police.

And then...

I got up

to warn my husband.

Pardon...but was your husband already asleep?

My husband was an invalid...a nerve case.

Sometimes he stayed out at night.

Other times he spent a few days in bed.

I got up, but my husband wasn't

in his bedroom or in the house.

I thought he heard the noise and went down

by the small kitchen stairs....

That's what must of happened

otherwise we would have bumped into each other...

...and I would have stopped him going down.

When I think that it's

only because of that...!

I was coming out of his room or mine,

I don't know which...

...when I heard my husband cry out.

Not so much a cry as a stifled yell.

Then a thud and I ran back down.

Yes the outcome is tragically evident.

I do thank you madame.

Just one question...

When you found your husband,

was he no longer alive?

Alas, yes. Certainly.

Madame,I won't keep you any longer. If I may...

...allow me some advice:

you should get some sleep.

I'm not going to leave my husband.

It's very painful,

I know...

...but with a crime,

an autopsy is inevitable.

Your husband's body will be returned to you

after the legal formalities.

I ask you to call into

our offices tomorrow...

...to repeat

and sign your declarations.

I'll make sure to keep you

the shortest possible time.

Madame.

Brigadier.

What's her name again?

Madame Barrachet,

Catherine Barrachet.

Born Jolivet. 28 years old.

And him?

Didier Barrachet.

aged 49 estate owner.

What estate?

- Pardon...

Superintendent,

that candlestick...

...which is always on the pedestal table...

...have you

moved it?

Get it to the lab immediately.

This'll be it?

Look

.

Look out for the fingerprints

that we've a habit of missing.

You've unwittingly identified

the murder weapon.

Oh, it's horrible.

Get some sleep.

It'd be a good idea to take a sedative.

Looks like a man, using a candlestick.

You taking a look?

Head wound, fractured skull,

instant death, what more is there to know?

And then... no...,

I'll skip the dinner table.

I'd rather see the living...temporary living.

Have you taken him away in the van?

I was waiting for your instructions.

He's there in the back room.

As he's here...

Not that way,

Superintendent.

What's going on?!

Ssh!

How much?

- 400,000 francs, a bundle.

Ah? The widow's pretty, I thought

maybe a crime of passion. Too bad.

You make a habit of heinous crimes?

What?

But i haven't killed anyone!

I was coming to find Didier's money.

Didier's dead.

That's the best yet!

This story of madness continues!

Didier was waiting for me outside...

he didn't dare come in.

I'd come with him to stop him doing anything stupid.

I shoulda stayed in bed!

Well?

That's not Didier.

I don't know this guy.

- However, it's Didier Barrachet.

This guy's 20 years older than him.

You're starting to irritate me a bit.

You were taken with 400,000 francs

that you deny having stolen...

I haven't stolen them

You deny having killed Didier Barrachet.

I haven't killed anyone!

When you were shown his body,

you denied it was Didier Barrachet!

That'e the truth!

I pulled him out of the river!

He wanted to do himself in

because of his wife and brother-in-law.

He had savings

he didn't dare retrieve.

He gave me the keys and waited for me

at the gate outside.

He told me as well that the key to the writing desk

was in the Chinese vase.

I found it as he told me.

He hadn't made it up!

Of course this one here

won't contradict you.

Can't you understand?

I'm telling you

this guy isn't Didier.

Michel, tell Madame Barrachet

to please come downstairs.

With consideration, please...OK?

What do you do for a living?

I'm a "crier".

A what?

Newsagent.

Pascal Cazalis, born Sienna,

naturalised French age 38.

Ah, Sienna... I had a wonderful holiday there 2 years ago.

Are you setting me up?

Yes, fair enough.

In your place I'd have stayed in Italy

where the death penalty's abolished.

While here...

the mandatory chop.

Madame,

I'm confused...

...but this individual makes out...

You recognize him?

I saw him here several hours ago.

and tell him why.

Go on...speak!

He came to tell me that he'd saved

my husband from drowning.

Ah!

Didier suffered

with acute neurasthenia..

I had already known him to have moments

of terrible depression.

But at 8 o'clock, when Didier came home...

...he categorically denied this story,

and was quite amused by it.

Just when did he tell you...

...that he hadn't thrown himself in the drink. Liar!

I can swear on something.

Didier didn't come home at 8 o'clock...

...then he was with me!

Just a moment...

When this man came,

he wasn't with your husband?

No,

he was alone.

He was waiting for me outside.

Already? ...your Didier passing his time

waiting for you outside his house.

Why didn't he come in?

He was afraid.

Afraid of what?

Of her and her brother-in-law.

Superintendent.

Rest assured, he said this isn't

the same man, .

Acording to these allegations...

...by Pascal Cazalis,

the victim couldn't be...

...Didier Barrachet.

How can you be so cynical?

- You've seen this guy there?

You say this is your husband?

You pretend it's Didier?

I beg of you... this is odious.

Odious?

IT'S DISGUSTING!

Calm down.

It'll take more than that to make me calm!

You trying to drive me crazy?!

I knew Didier!

I pulled him out of the drink!

I'd have been better off with a broken leg.

I lived with him two days!

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