It was a gamble. After all, she didnt know that there would be anything at all. So she imbued the comment with all the force and conviction she could muster. The next few minutes would prove her correct, or see her make a complete fool of herself.
This time it was Jeanne Armand who broke the silence. She burst out laughing: a harsh, humourless laugh that was all the more disturbing for being so unexpected and inappropriate.
Whats the matter? Janet asked.
I dont believe it, she said. All that work, all that covering of tracks for decades, to be finally brought down by something thats been in your own study for forty years. Its funny. Thats what it is.
Do I take it you accept my explanation? Flavia said quickly, hoping to keep her talking.
Oh, God, of course.
You asked Ellman to get the painting back?
Yes. I knew who Muller was, and I was damned if he was going to sweep in here and deny me my rights. Ive slaved for that man for years. He begged me to work for him, saying he needed me so much, an old man like him with no one else in the world. Hes very persuasive, you know that. So I did; to honour the family hero. I gave up everything and all I got in return was reproach that I wasnt a grandson he could be truly proud of. To carry on the Rouxel name, as though that meant anything. And then this man turns up. I could see it: the tear-filled meeting, the formal adoption, the gracious welcoming into the family bosom. A son: the final crowning of a golden life of achievement. Oh, no. I wasnt going to be shoved out of my deserved place like that. I knew about this man Ellman.
How?
I told you. I organized grandfathers life. All his letters, all his finances. All his old papers. I knew about these payments but couldnt work out what they were for. So I stopped them a year ago. A month or so later Ellman turned up. He told me a great deal about my heroic grandfather. I did a little looking around in Grandfathers papers; enough to know that Ellman was the sort of person who could do a job like that and would have good reason to keep quiet. I didnt think Montaillou would do it for me. What if Montaillou visited this man, and got a full explanation? Do you think he would have destroyed the evidence about who Muller was? Not a chance. That wasnt what his job was. He would have considered that a harmless domestic matter and left it alone. I needed someone who would get the evidence and destroy it. And I didnt know that he was going to commit murder. I never wanted that. I just wanted Mullers proof.
So why was he killed?
Because I underestimated how nasty a man Ellman was. He didnt want a rival muscling in on his territory, I think. He was worried Muller might be some investigator whod go to the newspapers. And, of course, if that happened he might be discovered and prosecuted as well.
And you killed Ellman in turn?
Yes, I did, she said perfectly calmly. He deserved it. He told me he had recovered the painting and, if it was so important, I would have to pay a million francs. I had no choice. I didnt know he was lying and had found nothing. So I shot him with his own gun. So what? Does anybody here think he deserved to live? He should have been hanged years ago. Would have been, had the scourge of injustice here not protected him.
She nodded to herself, then looked at Flavia as though she was the only person who really understood. What else could any reasonable person do? she seemed to be asking.
You say Ellman told you about your grandfather?
Yes. I couldnt believe it. The great man, you know. So upright and honourable. And the government had never done anything about it...
They knew, of course, Flavia said. Thats why Montaillou was given carte blanche.
I knew nothing of the sort, Montaillou said stiffly. Good. He was wavering as well.
There I believe you, Flavia replied. I dont think you did. Your superiors probably did, though.
Schmidt, Ellman, whatever his name was, Jeanne continued, told me that in 1942 or something, Grandfather was arrested and threatened with torture. He caved in immediately. Didnt even try to put up a fight. Ellman held him in total contempt. Said he would have done anything to be let go. And did. In return for his freedom, he offered to hand over the names of everybody he could think of.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. And now you tell me theres proof. Good. Im glad of that. At least it clears up any uncertainty. I can be sure I didnt do anything so wrong. Not in comparison with everyone else.
Flavia breathed an enormous sigh of relief. But she got no satisfaction from having proven her case. Monsieur Rouxel? If you want to prove me wrong, you can.
But Rouxel had abandoned the struggle as well. He knew as well as Flavia that it didnt matter now whether there was any proof or not. Everybody in the room knew that what shed said was correct.
One mistake, he said wearily after a while. One failing. And Ive spent the rest of my life trying to make up for it. I have, you know. Ive worked hard tirelessly, I might say for this country. Thats what this prize was for. And I earned it. I deserved it. You cant take that away.
Nobody is
It was the pain. I couldnt stand it. Even the idea. I was arrested by accident. Stupid bad luck, that was all. And I was handed over to Schmidt. He was a terrible man; a monster. Really, Id never dreamt that people like him existed. He liked hurting people. It was his natural calling. I think it was realizing that interrogating me would give him pleasure that I couldnt stand. And I knew Id break eventually. Everybody did. So I gave in. They let me go pretend to escape in return for information.
There was no need to co-operate quite so fully, was there?
Oh, yes. They knew where I was. If I hadnt, they could have come and got me at any time.
He looked around him to see if what he was saying was having any impact. Evidently he decided he didnt care one way or the other. Then the war began to turn. The Americans had come in and everybody knew the Germans were going to lose. I met Schmidt, and he offered a deal. Not that I had any chance of refusing. Hed keep my secret, and Id keep his. He knew that when the Allies won hed be a wanted man; we needed each other.
It was a mistake. It was the meeting, I think, that Hartung heard about. How he knew I never discovered. But he got hold of something: a photograph, a diary, whatever. He began treating me strangely, and so we came up with this idea, Schmidt and I. Solve all our problems in one go. We concocted a scheme in which Hartung would be told about an operation, it would go wrong and I could place the blame on him.
Just as everything was ready, he came to my office and accused me to my face of being a traitor. Of course, I denied it, but he must have guessed something.
Was he ever alone there?
Rouxel shrugged, co-operative, even helpful now. Perhaps yes. Maybe that was when he concealed his evidence. Next day he fled, and the Germans missed him. I dont know how he got away, but he did. They caught everyone else.
After the war he came back. That was easy. I was working for the commission, so it was simple to have him arrested and to prepare the case. My own testimony, that of his wife. Watertight. But when I visited him in jail to interrogate him, he said he was looking forward to the trial. Then he would produce his evidence.
Did he have some? I didnt know, but he seemed confident. I had no choice again, you see. I couldnt let him make a statement in court. So he was found hanged. It was the same with Schmidt; I couldnt allow him to be tried either. So when I heard the Germans were looking for him, I tipped him off, and helped him get a new identity. He started blackmailing me properly about ten years ago. Said his son was expensive. Of course I paid.
And now it comes to this. I discover I had a son, and that my own granddaughter had him murdered. I can think of no more severe punishment you could mete out.
Then he lapsed into total silence, and everybody looked around wondering what to do next.
I think we ought to have a little talk, Janet said. Im sure you realize this creates problems far beyond a mere murder, however serious that might be. Montaillou here can take Madame Armand away to the police station for further questioning. And you, Flavia, I would like to talk over a few matters with you.
She thought quickly and looked at Rouxel. If there had ever been any doubt in her mind, the sight of him dispelled it. He was a broken man. All his defences and protests had crumbled into nothing when Jeanne Armand began to talk. He was a man whose life had come to an end. There was not much danger of his running away. And what would it matter, really, if he did? So she nodded.
Fine. Shall we go outside?
And while a very deflated Montaillou led the woman away, Janet and Flavia, with Argyll in attendance, stood in the hallway and talked quietly.
She thought quickly and looked at Rouxel. If there had ever been any doubt in her mind, the sight of him dispelled it. He was a broken man. All his defences and protests had crumbled into nothing when Jeanne Armand began to talk. He was a man whose life had come to an end. There was not much danger of his running away. And what would it matter, really, if he did? So she nodded.
Fine. Shall we go outside?
And while a very deflated Montaillou led the woman away, Janet and Flavia, with Argyll in attendance, stood in the hallway and talked quietly.
Firstly, the Frenchman said, I hope youll accept my apologies. I really had little choice.
Dont worry. Bottandos feathers are a bit ruffled, but Im sure that wont last long.
Good. Now, the question is, what do we do now? I dont know about you, but I think that proper tests might well indicate that Madame Armand is mentally unbalanced.
Which means you want to put her in a hospital?
Yes. I think that would be best.
No trial? No publicity?
He nodded.
Part one of a cover-up? Whats part two?
He shifted uneasily on his feet. What else can we do?
Bring charges against Rouxel?
Too long ago. No matter what evidence is in that painting, its all far too long ago. Besides, can you really imagine the government sanctioning charges against a man they themselves nominated for this prize? When theres a danger it will come out that they knew about him all along? How damning is this evidence?