Chapter 15

Inspector Béchoux paused again. Madame Fougeraie’s head was bowed. Jim Barnett accompanied his friend into the Round Room, cast a searching glance over everything, and spoke: “Now then, Béchoux, let’s get down to it. What has the inquest revealed?” “The inquest has revealed,” answered Béchoux, “that Paul Erstein was struck on the left temple with a blunt instrument which must have felled him at a blow. There was no sign of a struggle except that his watch was broken. The hands pointed to five minutes to five, that’…