Murder in Pug's Parlour (30 page)

Auguste bristled with indignation. Was it not he who—?

‘I
am
a detective already, Inspector. Was it not I who solved how Greeves’ murder—?’ Then he saw Rose smile. Ah, these English with their straight faces . . . ‘Ah Inspector, you may mock me. But I tell you there is much the same in our two jobs. There is much patient reasoning, composing of menus – just as you build in your background; we assemble our ingredients as you your suspects and evidence. And then comes the art: the basic skills; the careful attention to detail; then the cooking; the seasoning; the knowing
when and where to act; and finally—’ He paused.

‘Yes, Mr Didier?’ asked Rose.

‘There is the touch of a maître,’ said Auguste reverently. ‘Only a maître can achieve the supreme result.’

‘I’ve heard of a maître d’,’ said Rose. ‘Now I’ll know it means maître detective. First time I’ve ever thought crime could be solved in the kitchen. I must tell Mrs Rose.’ With this warming thought he was disposed to be generous and added, ‘That was a fine bit of work you did at the end, Didier.’ Then he remembered something. ‘How do you explain the pulling of the bell rope? That’s why we thought the murderer and the visitor to Mrs Hartham’s bedroom weren’t the same person.’

Auguste said quietly, ‘Because I am a Frenchman, monsieur. And he was a German. And Frenchmen have feelings about Germans, born of a war fought twenty-one years ago. Madame la Marquise cried, “Sedan”. Memories of the massacre at Sedan go deep in France, monsieur. We remember.’

‘But the bell rope?’

‘He was a Prussian,’ said Auguste simply. ‘And Prussians are correct in their behaviour. Through centuries of obedience to orders, they do what is required automatically in a given situation. Mrs Hartham needed assistance. He pulled the bell rope. It seems ridiculous, perhaps, monsieur, but the Germans are not so. You see just a man whom the cartoonists love. We French see a German. Never underestimate the Germans, monsieur. This Kaiser, he is no joke, Inspector Rose. You will see, we will all see.’

‘Oh, not in England, Mr Didier, not in England.’