The Man with the Lead Stomach Read Free

be taking place in silence, the King’s daughter became concerned and turned round to learn the cause of the disturbance.
    At that moment the curtain fell for the end of the act. Nicolas then saw the same man enter Monsieur de Sartine’s box and speak to him. The magistrate rose to his feet, leant towards the auditorium to peer into the stalls and, after finally spotting Nicolas, summarily signalled him to come up. The commotion was growing in the royal box and Madame Adélaïde was dabbing Madame de Ruissec’s temples with a handkerchief.
    Later, going back over these moments, Nicolas would remember that this was when the whole monstrous mechanism was set in motion, to end only once destiny had been sated with death and destruction. He bade farewell to Monsieur de La Borde, then hurried to join the Lieutenant General of Police as quickly as the public, now on its feet and talking in tightly knit groups, would allow.
     
    Monsieur de Sartine was not in his box. He must have gone to the princess’s. After parleying with the officials of her Household, Nicolas managed to gain admittance. Madame Adélaïde wasspeaking to the Lieutenant General in a low voice. Her beautiful, full face was scarlet with emotion. Monsieur de Ruissec was kneeling at his wife’s feet, fanning her as she sat semi-conscious in her seat. A man in black, whom Nicolas recognised as a police officer from the Châtelet, was standing stock-still against the partition wall, looking terrified. Nicolas drew near and gave a deep bow. The princess, taken by surprise, replied with a slight nod of the head. He was moved to see in her youthful face a close resemblance to the King.
    Monsieur de Sartine resumed: ‘Your Royal Highness may rest assured that we shall do everything necessary to accompany the comte and comtesse back to their mansion and attempt to settle this matter discreetly. However, some observations do need to be made. Commissioner Le Floch here will accompany me. The King knows him and holds him in high esteem.’
    A royal look fell upon Nicolas without seeming to notice him.
    ‘We rely on you to do your utmost to allay the distress of our dear friends,’ said Madame Adélaïde. ‘And above all, sir, have no concern for my person but deal with what is urgent. The officials of our Household will watch over our person and besides the Parisians love us, both my sisters and myself.’
    Monsieur de Sartine bowed as the elderly couple – the comtesse trembling uncontrollably – took their leave of the princess. They all left to return to their carriages. It took some time to gather up the coachmen, who had gone off for a drink or two. A court carriage set off with the Ruissecs, since they had come in procession from Versailles with the princess. It was soon followed by Monsieur de Sartine’s coach. The flames from the sputtering torches cast flickering shadows over the houses in Rue Saint-Honoré.
    The Lieutenant General remained silent for some considerable time, lost in thought. A disorderly jam of carriages brought the vehicle to a standstill and the young man took advantage of the moment to venture an observation.
    ‘One day, sir, it would be useful to introduce regulations with respect to vehicles waiting outside theatres and opera houses. It might even be appropriate to force them to go one way only, in order to make our streets less congested and easier to negotiate. 6 If the roads were also better lit, safety would definitely improve.’ 7
    The observation elicited no reply. Instead the Lieutenant General drummed on the windows of the carriage in apparent irritation. He turned towards his subordinate.
    ‘Commissioner Le Floch …’
    Nicolas stiffened. He had learnt from experience that when the Lieutenant General of Police addressed him by his title instead of calling him by his first name, as he normally did, it meant that he was not in a good mood and that trouble was brewing. He listened carefully.
    ‘We have before us, so I