"LORMIERE'S ECHO WEEKLY NEWSPAPER" "DIRECTOR" " EDITOR IN CHIEF" " JACQUES..." " Did you see her?" " Who is it?" "Dr. Ancelin's girlfriend." " She's lost a lot of weight!" " With good reason." "So, you're finally here!" "How are you, Rifardont?" " Good evening, Guillois" " Good evening, gentlemen." " Shall we cut the cards?" " No, let's do it as usual." "O.K." "What terrible weather!" " Paul!" " I'll be right with you." "Excuse me, I hope you haven't forgotten what I asked for." "Four brandies." "The bottle from the back." "No saucers." "This is my round." "We'll play the usual way?" "Two cents a point?" "That's quite enough given how much things cost!" "By the way, Tournier, Have you seen Ancelin?" " No, why?" " His girlfriend's looking for him." "In this rain?" "She's crazy!" "He's much too afraid of getting wet!" "Two hearts." "Look, here she is." "I'm sorry to bother you, gentlemen, but have you seen Dr. Ancelin this evening?" "Absolutely not." "The doctor hardly ever comes here, especially at night." "You could go and look in those little cafes near the station... or in Gustave's bar." "Thank you, and again I'm sorry for interrupting your game." " Two hearts." " Strange girl." "Strange couple." "I don't understand how they can live together." "Two hearts." "When I think that a patient could be looking for him..." "For Dr. Ancelin!" "Must be insane!" "D'you know what he was doing yesterday... in the middle of Desfeuilles St.?" "Taking care of a dog." " Of a what?" " Of a dog." "In the middle of the street!" "It had hurt its leg." "I saw him as clearly as I'm seeing you." "What kindness!" "A doctor who looks after dogs in the street." "What else is he going to do?" "They're the only patients he's got left." "In any case, there would just be one less dog." "Listen!" "Are we talking about dogs or playing bridge?" " I said two hearts." " O.K." " Pass." " Four hearts!" " Very good." " It's your turn, M. Tournier." "Give me another one." "Doctor, don't you think you've had enough?" "You should go sit in the other room." "It's quieter." "Perhaps you'd like to sleep for a while." " I don't like sleeping." " Oh, we all say that..." "Give me the bottle." "Later." "We'll bring it to you." "I don't mean to insult you, doctor, but you've had enough." "Any more and you'll overflow." "It's too late!" "Here you are." "Go sit at the table in the back and don't worry about anything." "In less than an an hour he'll be over the top." "So what?" "Are you running a bar or the Salvation Army?" " He'll end up killing himself." " As long as he keeps on paying..." "I've seen a lot of drunks in my life, but never one like him." "He drinks in a way that scares me." "And yet, you should have seen him when he first came here, not even twelve years ago." "A big friendly guy, ready to take on the world." "And he's ended up not taking on anything and drinking everything." "Hey, that reminds me." "He hasn't paid for the bottle!" "Doctor!" "Doctor!" "Excuse me, but could you settle up?" "Could you pay me now?" "It's for the cash desk, you see..." "It's easier." "How much?" "14.75 fr." "That's a lot." "You don't see brandy like this every day." " Here you are." " Do you want the change?" " No, it will cover the lying." " What do you mean?" "Nothing." "You have your fun, fooling me." "And I have my fun letting myself be fooled." "That's all." "Now, go away!" "Go away!" " Did you have a problem?" " Yes, but I've got the money." "Oh, here comes the good samaritan." " Is Dr. Ancelin here?" " Yes, in the next room." "In some ways he's better off here what with all the rain." "Is he drunk?" "Well, he hasn't been drinking water!" "I've told you not to give him so much alcohol." "It's ridiculous." "My poor Michel!" "That's what they all say when they meet me in the street." ""Poor Michel!" "Poor doctor!"" "But it's worst of all when you say it." "It's awful that someone like you should come to this miserable cafe to get drunk out of your mind!" "Really!" "If only I could lose my mind!" "Drink myself to death!" " Not think of anything, forget..." " Who do you want to forget?" "Myself and everyone else." " Did someone hurt you again?" " No more than usual." "Did you lose another patient?" "Is that it?" "Who was it?" "Darblat?" "Grignon?" "Normand." "I thought his wife was better." "What made him do that?" "What do I know!" "Poor people and beggars don't have to explain themselves." "You didn't put up a fight?" "You didn't defend yourself?" "I lost the desire to defend myself a long time ago." " I'm finished, don't you agree?" " No!" "Oh yes I am, admit it!" "You're the only one who's never said it." "And yet, I know I'm worth more than the others." "I know that I have a strength that the others don't have... and will never have." "Never!" "Never!" "Wait a little longer." "You're in no state to drive." "You think I'm drunk?" "I'm not even close." "I've really tried, but their booze is too watered down." " Would you like me to drive?" " No." "Be careful, Michel." "The roads are wet." "Well, what exactly did Normand say?" "Did he want to transfer to Dormont?" "Yes." " When is he going to stop fooling them with his superior airs and his model clinic?" "What's he got that you don't have?" "You've just said it - his superior airs and his model clinic." "Plus his way of turning a profit from everything, and using unecessarily complicated words." "Michel, Don't you think you're going too fast?" "You should've let me drive." "We're coming to that dangerous bend in the road." "Be careful." "Michel!" "Michel!" "Be careful!" "Michel!" "Michel!" " Michel, what are you going to do?" " Go and see what happened." " You've killed him." " Help me." " Will you take him to the clinic?" " There's no point." "What then?" "No one must know it was me." "They'll find out anyway." "And then there's the insurance!" " I haven't got any insurance." " What?" "If I had made the last three payments," "I wouldn't have been able to buy you that coat." " I can't." " Get back in the car then!" " Give me my gloves!" " What?" "My gloves!" "My coat." "My hat." "Did you see?" "The lights are still on in the mill." "They haven't gone to bed yet." " Perhaps they heard something." " Heard what?" "If the police find you, it'll be really serious." "if they find me..." " Hello, doctor, how are you?" " How's it going?" "Don't let me disturb you, it's a difficult shot." "Nonsense!" "It's just a friendly game." " How are you?" " Hello, doctor." " How's it going?" " Damn!" "Only 17." "It's your turn, Carneau." "O.K." "So, what's new?" "it's you we should be asking." "You're the official journalist." " Anything new?" " No, nothing." "Except for the story about the motorcyclist." "The story about the motorcyclist?" " Your turn, Gillois." " Where's my ball?" " It's the one in the middle." " Of course." "Just a moment, doctor." "Apparently something happened to a motorcyclist,d'you know anything?" "Well no, I don't." "Oh yes... the one they found at the bend on Mill Road." "It's of no interest." "It's over." "Aubignac won." "Just as it should be, my friend." "You have such luck!" "That's what they said to William Tell, after he split the apple." "History'll be the judge of that!" "Shall we have a drink?" "No, you're with Ancelin." "We don't want to bother you." "In any case, I have to talk to Rifardont." "Obviously the drinks are on me, since I lost." "Well done, Aubignac!" "I don't often have the chance to speak to you alone." " Shall we sit down?" " Yes, let's sit down." " Paul, 2 glasses of Vouvray!" " Right, M. Aubignac." "So, what about this motorcyclist?" "It's really nothing." "A guy got himself killed last night, along Mill Road, on the way to your house." "Oh, yes right!" "Someone from around here?" "No." "And, by the way, that's the only detail that's of interest." "The guy had just stolen the bike from a shed down on the lower plains." " How strange." " Yes..." "If only man's justice could work as fast as God's, we could live without any problems." "Thanks, Paul." "The saucers are for M. Gillois." " He's the one who lost." " Fine." " To your health!" " Cheers!" "." "It seems that these are for you, sir." "Not both of them." "Just the one for M. Aubignac." "I'm paying for four glasses, not five." "Paul, bring me back those two saucers!" "I wouldn't want to increase expenses for our friend the Notary." " I'm changing tables." " I'll come with you." " And thanks for the grand gesture!" " Think nothing of it!" "How rude!" "I'm sorry, Doctor." " It was my fault." " It's really not important, Aubignac." "I've had my revenge for quite a while now." " He has a stomach ulcer." " Well done!" "And I'm not looking after him, Dormont is." "But, tell me, are you sure it was an accident?" " That what was an accident?" " The motorbike." "Oh, yes!" "Of course it was an accident." "The guy didn't know the road or the bike." "He took the bend badly, that's all." "If we ignore the fact that he was driving with no lights." " And how do you know that?" " His headlight was missing a bulb." "Why?" "Do you have another theory?" "No." "But, perhaps, he could have been hit by a car." "No, that's not possible." "They would have found some kind of mark, some clue." " I don't know what, but something." " Any mark can be erased, can't it?" "No." "No, not everything." "Unless the driver in question was a genius." " And why wouldn't he be?" "Oh come on, doctor!" "I bet you read a lot of mystery novels!" "Oh it's 12:40." "I'm going to miss the wires from París." "And do the police share your opinion?" "I'm simply agreeing with them." "The case is closed." "Paul!" " How much?" " 40 francs, M. Aubignac." " No, Let me." "It's my round." " Thank you, doctor." "I was talking to Aubignac." "An accident, pure and simple." "The police have closed the case." "Really!" "Admit that you're surprised." " I've surprised you, haven't I?" " Well, yes, you have." "The guy had stolen the motorbike just minutes before the accident." "Aubignac calls that God's Justice." "Cheers!" "." "What's this?" "I found it in your pocket when I was brushing your suit." "Is it the bulb you took out of the motorbike's headlight?" "Yes!" "And you were able to think of something like that when you had just...!" "Yes!" "Something very strange happened to me." "I was pretty drunk but then, suddenly," "I saw everything with amazing clarity." "It took me no more than a second to calculate everything, predict everything, make all the right decisions." " Don't you feel well?" " Oh, yes." " You're not eating..." " I'm preoccupied." " I've lost my ring." " Are you sure?" "It was so hard for you to buy it for me...." "I'm so stupid!" "Well, you seem to lose everything." "Six months ago, your gold brooch disappeared." "Then you left your coat on the train to Poitiers, and now it's your diamond ring." " Did you have it yesterday?" " Yes." "I just realized when I was setting the table." " You don't have any idea?" " Well, just one." "I'm afraid it might have slipped off yesterday, when I got out to help you." "You know the ring was a little big." "No, that's impossible." "They've been investigating." "They've looked at every inch of the ground." "In any case, I think we'd better keep quiet." " About what?" " About the ring." "It wouldn't be worth starting an investigation." "They could ask me questions." "You never know." "You're right." " Are you expecting anyone?" " No, no one." " I'd like to speak to the doctor." " Yes, sir." "Please come in." "It's Louvet, the police lieutenant." "How are you, lieutenant?" "What's the matter?" "Still have rheumatism in your shoulder?" "No, no doctor." "This is an official visit." "It's about the guy who was killed on his motorbike last night." "Oh yes, Aubignac told me about it." " He told you it was quite simple..." " Please, sit down." "A thief stole a motorbike in the middle of the night, didn't know the road." "Took the bend badly and killed himself." "Quite clear!" "Very sad, but quite obvious." "And he was driving without any lights, Aubignac said." "Yes, and that's what's troubling me." "When I examined the motorbike, the headlight was intact, but there was no bulb in it." "I talked to the farmer whose bike it was." "It was already dark when he got back from Chartres and his light was working normally." "So, what could have happened?" "I find it hard to believe that the thief took the bulb out." "It would be the best way to draw attention to himself." "However, someone took the bulb out." "Who and why?" "Just let me say that I'm not a police lieutenant!" "Good answer, doctor." "But actually, I did think that you could help me." "If my information is correct, you left Gustave's bar around 11 o'clock." "and naturally you took Mill Road to get here." "Yes, of course." "That's why I thought, that with a bit of luck, you would have come across the motorbike on your way, and would be able to tell me whether he had lights on or not." "Unfortunately, I didn't come across anyone." " I'm sorry." " That's too bad." " Good night, doctor." " Good night." "I'll see you out." " And what if the farmer lied?" " Lied?" "Why?" "Put yourself in his place." "If he had told you that he had come from Chartres with no lights..." "It's not the kind of thing you confess really easily to a policeman." "I see, I see." "Wow, crafty old Paulin!" "Damned deceitful guy!" "But that must be it." "Doctor, you're a genius." "You've taken a load off my shoulders!" "Now, I'll finally, be able to close this case." " Goodbye, doctor and thank you." " Goodbye, lieutenant." " Were you frightened?" " Yes, very." "Me too." "For two minutes." "But it wasn't unpleasant." " You're not going to finish eating?" " No, I have to rush off." "A little girl is sick." "I'm hurrying over there." " What's the matter?" " Nothing." "I'm just looking at you." "Good afternoon, doctor." " How did she do last night?" " A little better than before." "She slept solidly for five hours." "She was asking for you." " And her temperature?" " It's still up there, 39.3, like yesterday." "She's in a lot of pain." "Don't be afraid, my little one." "Her stomach is as hard as a board, doctor." "Tell me if I'm hurting you." "You'll be better in a few days and can go back to school." " Do you like school?" " Yes." "See you tomorrow." "Well, doctor?" "Well look, her temperature has stabilized." "Her stomach isn't as hard;" "the vomiting stopped 2 days ago..." "I'm sticking to my diagnosis, no need for an operation." "But she's in so much pain, doctor!" "Couldn't we do something for her?" "M. Martin told me again last night that we shouldn't put it off." "M. Martin, you know him, Don't you?" "He has a son who's studying medicine in París." "Listen, when M. Martin's son has finished his studies," "I'll be delighted to chat with him." "God knows I've got great confidence in you, doctor." "If you asked me to cut my hand off, I'd do it." "But it's about my little girl and I'm so scared." "Would you like me to consult with one of my colleagues?" " With Dr.Dormont, for instance?" " Dormont?" "The one at the clinic?" " Yes." " Yes, if you think..." "He's a specialist in stomach ailments." "They call him a brilliant surgeon..." "I don't have anything else to propose." "That seems like a great idea, doctor." "Many thanks." "But you'll come with him, won't you?" "So the little one can see you." "She won't be so scared." "You know that I never abandon my patients." "I know that you do a lot more than that." "Wait a moment." "Of course, I can't pay you everything I owe, but it's better then nothing." "You can pay me another day." "there's no hurry." "You're never in a hurry, doctor." "You've been taking care of everyone here for a year, without getting a cent." "Come on, take it." "The insurance ended up paying for our shed that burned down, you know." "Thanks to that, we got a little money." "In that case, I accept." "Many thanks, Mme. Bastard." " And for the little one, same as usual?" " Yes, continue what you're doing." " Don't forget the ice." " Right, doctor." " Good afternoon, sir." " Good afternoon..." "I just saw your sign, by chance, and so I came in." "Chance is a wonderful thing." "I'm delighted." " Is it a gift?" " Yes." "Undoubtedly a gift intended for a lady." " Like most gifts." " Of course." "You've got a lot of choice." "Would this lady like antique jewelry?" "A sketch for her bedroom?" "A travel case?" "A pair of embroidered slippers?" "A stuffed bird?" "Perhaps a squirrel?" "Here it is." "Have a good look." "Only thing he doesn't do is talk." "I don't like dead animals." "It's all a question of taste." "I've got an idea!" "From the end of the 19th century." "If you would be kind enough to give your cigarette to my musical, smoking rabbit..." "Your rabbit is charming but I really don't think so." "How about some jewelry?" "What do you think of that?" "I have some magnificent jewelry." "Come and see." "These must be very expensive." "D'you have anything around 7 or 8,000?" "Of course." "Beautiful piece, isn't it?" "40,000." "That's the price I paid for it." " Me too." " Pardon?" "This ring was lost just a few hours ago." "Perhaps you can explain how you come to have it?" "I don't like the insinuation!" "Do you think I could sell a ring that I happened to find?" "No, sir, I'm an honest man!" " Up to a point, I guess." " No, sir!" "I acquired everything I sell here quite legally, that ring like everything else." "Then I'm sorry but you bought it from a thief." "I bought it from people I know well," "A young couple, who at the moment, are having financial difficulties and who I help out when I can." "No, no." "No there's no doubt about it." "I bought this ring four months ago in París." "It will be very easy for me to prove." "Could you tell me exactly when this so-called couple sold you the ring?" "So-called couple?" "This very morning, sir." "And you know this man and his wife?" "They're from here?" "I know they live around here." "It's not the first time I've dealt with them, thank God." "I've bought a gold brooch and a coat from them in the past." "A gold brooch?" "With a snake curled up on itself?" " Six months ago?" " How do you know?" "And the coat?" "A black coat, wasn't it?" "With a sealskin collar?" "Sir..." "And I'll tell you what the woman looks like." "short, blonde, slim, with slightly sunken cheeks and thin lips, is that right?" " Yes, but sir, I..." " And the man?" "What's he like?" " I'd like to know really quickly." " I don't remember very well," "But I took down his name." " Show me!" "I take note of all the names, for the police." " Right, show me." " Yes, sir, right away." "Here it is!" "Pierre Mailleux, A garage owner in Lormieres." "I didn't know..." "I couldn't have known." "If you talk to the police they'll force me to close." "You won't say anything, will you?" "Since the ring is yours, take it." "Here." "I don't want any more problems." "Keep the ring." "There won't be any more problems." " What's happened?" " A murder." "Mailleux has been killed." " You can't go in." " I'm Dr. Ancelin." "Sorry, I didn't recognize you." "How are you, doctor?" "You know what's going on?" " I've just heard the news." " A bad business." "They're coming from Chartres, but I've asked Dr. Dormont to complete the initial reports." " Good." "Did you know him?" " Not well." "He looked after my car." " Did you notice anything in particular?" "No." "The perfect garage owner." "A good eye for mechanical problems and for billing." "What conclusions have you come to?" "He must have died between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m." "No sign of a struggle." "Hit straight in the heart." "He died instantly." " Hello, Ancelin?" " How are you, Dormont?" "As far as you can tell, would the assaillant be quite short?" "Possibly." "I'm just stating the facts, not making any deductions." " Any objections, my dear colleague?" " None at all." "It's all possible." "I just came to pick up my car." "I'm sorry." "They have to take prints off everything here." " Nothing can leave the garage." " Fine, I'll walk then." " Where can I wash my hands?" " Over here, doctor." " Good morning." " How are you, Aubignac?" "Makes a good headline for your paper, doesn't it?" "It's the first crime around here for 6 years." "I'm expecting a lot from it." " You monster!" " Put yourself in my place." "Anyway, I didn't like Mailleux." "I really hate those village Casanovas." "I'll bet you a round of drinks that there's a woman behind this." "And how did they discover the...the, the thing." "It was Letellier, the grain merchant." "He was knocking on the door for more than 20 minutes." " Did you know that Mailleux lived upstairs?" " Well, no, I didn't." "Letellier went up to the apartment." "No one there." "He came down and realized that the security door wasn't locked." "He came in and found the body." "And what does the lieutenant think?" "I don't know." "But I have confidence in him." "He's not stupid." "Oh, I agree." "Well, anyway, I think it's going to be a very simple murder, with a lot lot of mistakes." "A "home-style" murder." "Well, we'll see." "I'm not so sure." "I have to rush off." "I need to dictate my article." "On the eve of the day we go to press." "Talk about luck!" "Goodbye, doctor." "Goodbye." " Hey, Aubignac!" " Yes?" "The murderer must be one of his friends, don't you think?" "Why not?" "Come and get me at the paper." "We'll have a drink at Tournier's." "Right." "I have some calls to make." "How about 12 o'clock?" "Fine." " I've some to see M. Aubignac." " Sorry, doctor." " Something new?" " They've sent someone from Paris." "Well done!" "This is getting hot." "Have you seen M. Chauvin?" "Not yet, doctor." " Did you know Mailleux?" " Yes, I knew him." " Don't you think he was handsome?" " So-so." "Wow!" "You're hard to please!" " M. Galand." " Yes?" "Don't you think the garage owner was a handsome man?" "Not bad." "Sporty type." " Good morning, doctor." " Good morning, M. Galand." " I've come to see the boss." " M. Aubignac is expecting you." " My apologies, gentlemen." " Hello again, doctor." "Inspector Chambon, in charge of the investigation in the Mailleux case." "Doctor Ancelin." "Because we have an actual case, doctor!" "And you have no idea how much of one!" "You've been reading too many novels." " Pleased to meet you." " The pleasure is mine." "Please." "I'm sorry to disturb you, but Aubignac told me..." "You're not disturbing us." "If you promise to keep quiet about everything said in here, you're welcome to stay." "I need people who know this area perfectly." " In that case..." " Doctor, it's thrilling!" "Lormieres is living through a historic moment!" "You know the initial results of the investigation?" "I've only just finished my calls." "And there are already results?" " Thank you." "I don't smoke." " Nothing!" "Absolutely zero!" "Not a trace of a clue." "They didn't find anything of interest." "Whoever it was, left no trace." "It's amazing!" "I'm not familiar with all the details of a police investigation, inspector, but our friend's conclusions suprise me." "He's a journalist." "He wants nothing more than to find himself with a mysterious and sensational case." "That's what this is, inspector!" "It is!" " What do you think, Louvet?" " I have to say, off the top, that the crime was pretty well executed." " The perfect crime!" " The perfect crime doesn't exist, for the simple reason that nobody's brain is perfect." " Isn't that right, doctor?" " Everything is relative, sir." "Nobody is perfect in absolute terms, but anyone can be, in comparison with others." "Well, yes..." "Of course." "In other words, there's no such thing as a perfect murder... but the police can make mistakes." " Yes." "But it can be the other way round too." "Thank God!" " Well, Noel?" " Nothing!" "Between 9:00 o'clock last night and this morning, absolutely nothing to follow up." "It's as though the guy was killed by a ghost." " What about the neighbours?" " They didn't see or hear anything." " Any correspondance?" " None." "Just invoices." "And yet, Mailleux led quite an exciting romantic life." "It's curious!" "Generally, women write letters, and men like to keep them." "The guy who committed the crime must have known that." " The weapon hasn't been found?" " That would be too good!" "And what are you thinking, inspector?" "Could it be a dagger?" "Something like that." "A letter-opener, a dagger." "Even a screwdriver." "Anything with a blade that's about 12 cm long and less than 4 cm at the base." " Noel!" " Yes, boss." "So you see, doctor?" "A perfect crime!" "Oh, it's you!" "Have you seen my scissors?" " Your scissors?" " Yes, you know, the long ones, that you bought at the antique dealer's in Poitiers." " I can't find them." " You know you lose everything." "Yes, but not my scissors!" "They never move from here." "They'll turn up." "Everything ends up being found." "Easy to say!" " Shall we have lunch?" " Yes, right away." "I can keep looking for them this afternoon." "I didn't see you this morning." "Did you spend the night working in your office?" "Yes." "I slept on the sofa..." " How is Mme. Mazier?" " Good." "Her fever has come down." "What's the matter?" "You don't seem very happy," "A little tired." "The car has broken down and I had to make all my calls on foot." "You took a taxi home didn't you?" "Yes." "It's amazing how far it is." " Did you see anyone?" " Same as usual." " Anything new in town?" " Nothing." "Oh, yes!" "I was forgetting." "A murder." "A murder?" "And you call that "nothing"?" "A murder here in Lormieres." "How extraordinary!" "Who was it?" "No one you know..." " A garage owner." " A garage owner?" "Who?" "Leclerc?" "The one with the Renault garage?" "No." "Someone called Mailleux." "What's the matter?" " Is he dead?" " Yes." "But you didn't know this guy!" "You didn't know him." "Did you?" "Tell me!" "You didn't know him and yet you're crying." "Poor Madeleine!" "You shed a lot of tears for other people's misfortune!" " Who killed him?" " That's what they're investigating." " How did he die?" " Stabbed." "Someone stuck a knife in his heart." "A knife or something else." "The París police say it might have been a long dagger, a screwdriver," "or even a pair of scissors." "Michel!" "They haven't found anything." "Not the weapon, nor the murderer." "And they'll never find anything." "A well executed crime." "Very well executed." "Too well executed for this gang of fools!" "The other guy had stolen a motorbike." "Perhaps this one had stolen something too..." "The love of some poor man for instance." "It was you!" "You killed him!" "You killed him!" "You killed Pierre!" "I didn't know he was called Pierre!" "But I totally agree with you about the rest," " I killed your lover!" " Murderer!" "Murderer!" "Yes, a murderer." "But not like the others." ""A very intelligent murderer", just like inspector Chambon said." "That's my revenge and my justification!" "Try to understand, if you can." "To get rid of your damned pimp, I pulled off a masterpiece." "Do you know where I'm going?" "To the police." "I'm going to tell them that you killed Pierre." "And the day they drag you to the gallows," "I'll be there to watch you shaking with fear." "I don't think so." "Stop and think for a moment:" "if your damned scissors fall into the hands of the inspector, he'll only find one set of fingerprints: yours." "And at the same time he'll find out that you were Mailleux's mistress." "I found all your letters at his house, Madeleine." "You complained a lot about his coldness to you." "And I even seem to remember, that you threatened to kill him if he ever left you." "But you know that I would never have done that." "Of course I know, but perhaps I wouldn't feel like admitting it." "And besides,by all acounts, the blow that killed Mailleux came from someone shorter than he was." "From someone like you, for instance." "They have nothing against me." "Absolutely nothing." "Not a trace of evidence, not the hint of a clue." "And by the way, you didn't love him." "You only love yourself, your pleasure and your comfort." "Now you've lost your pleasure, at least keep your comfort." "And anyway, where would you go?" "Back to the Post Office?" "They won't let take you in any more." "Who will give you any money?" "Who will look after you?" "I'd like to keep you, Madeleine." "I need you." "You'll stay here." "You'll stay because you're even more of a coward than I am." "In fact, it's you I should have killed." "I thought about it for hours." "Everything was ready." "I'll stay, if you like." "I'll do anything you want." "Anything you want." "Everything was ready." "It was simple." "So simple!" "I threatened you, you got scared and ran out of the house." "Out in front you found the car which I had left there on purpose." "The engine was still running." "You jumped behind the wheel, like a crazy woman, and drove off." "And when you got to the creek that runs past the mill, the steering column broke." "It's such an old car, isn't it?" "Only to be expected!" "And 3 metres of water keep churning noisily under the vanes of the mill." "An accident!" "A regrettable accident." "Forgive me, Michel." "Forgive me." "At the last moment," "I couldn't find the necessary strength to do it." "So he paid the price instead." "I'll see you this evening." "Hey, doctor!" "I've got a little gift for you." "It's tomorrow's edition... but you'll be the first to have it." "Look at this article." "Kind of you to think of me." "Thank you." "However, it seems to me that you're exaggerating a bit aren't you?" "," "No, not in the least!" "If murder can be considered an art, this man is an artist, doctor." "A great artist!" " If you say so..." " No, the police do." "And the whole town with them!" " Obviously, you..." " I what?" "Nothing, you're a good man, bit of a home-body." "And this type of thing is too much for you." "That must be it." "Perhaps you're right." " Goodbye, Aubignac." " Goodbye, doctor." "I wouldn't want to miss that for anything." "Perfect." "Around 8 o'clock?" "Right, I'll finish up here and be right there." " What is it?" " Dr. Ancelin is asking to see you." " He says it's urgent." " Fine, have him come in." "How are you my dear colleague?" "Please sit down." "Thank you, but I don't have time." "The reason I'm here is a sick little girl" "I've been loooking after for a week or so." "I'd like to have your opinion." " What's the matter with her?" " An appendicitis attack." "Her mother wants her to have an operation, but I'm against it." " Why?" " She's a very delicate little girl." "She had lung congestion 8 months ago and her heart is not in good shape... in short; it's about choosing between two risks," "Yours or mine." " Exactly." " Did the family ask for me to come?" " No, I'm the one who suggested it." "That's strange." "As you know, several of our colleagues could offer the same service." "Why did you choose me?" "I don't think it's because of our strong bond of friendship." "No, you don't like me, and I don't like you." "It's not important." "But the little girl's mother is insisting and I need to calm her fears,officially." "Thank you for the back-handed compliment!" "You're welcome." "Would you like us to go there together tomorrow?" "No, right now..." "That's a problem." "I've got an important meeting." "Oh well." "O.K. Let's go!" "We'll take my car, all right?" "THE HELPING CLINIC DOCTOR DORMONT" ""Inspector Chambon recognizes that he finds himself in the presence of the best organized criminal mind that he has ever encountered." "We're looking at a criminal matter whose importance easily surpasses the personality of the victim." "In this case, it's the murderer who's the star." "He seems to have been able to pull off the impossible challenge of a perfect crime." "Whether they discover how it was done, or not, the murder of Pierre Mailleux will remain a classic."" "Very bad literature." "It's Inspector Chambon himself who mentions "superior intelligence."" "Doubtless, as an excuse for his own mediocrity." "There are no murderers who are geniuses, believe me." "There are just murderers who are lucky." "In fact, I've to go see this inspector." "I've got something to tell him." " About the murder?" " Yes." "You suspect something?" "I can narrow down the time that Mailleux was killed, to within 10 minutes or so." " That's important." " Yes, very." "The rest is just a question of patience." "There's no doubt, pefection isn't possible in this world." "Here you have a guy who thought he had left no clue behind." "But, he couldn't predict everything." "He couldn't posibly have guessed, that around 9:30 that same evening," "I had taken my car to Mailleux, so that he could move my rear-view mirror before the next morning." "I don't understand." "At first Mailleux refused, because there was an power cut and he couldn't get to work right away." " Why?" "Because in order to make the necessary holes, he needed an electric drill." " He needed the power to come back on." " And so?" "Look, the two holes have been made." "And that couldn't have been until at least 10:40, since that's when the power came back on." "If you look at the two holes, you can see that the second one is only half-finished." "Why?" "Because Mailleux was interrupted in the middle of the job; some-one came knocking at the garage door." "You're very intelligent, Dormont." "Thank you." "We need to find out why Mailleux didn't start working again once the visitor had left." "And there's only one answer for that:" "because he was dead." "The visitor was the murderer." "Conclusion:" "Mailleux was murdered between 10:40 and 11:00 o'clock." "I should also add that the person who came in was known to Mailleux." "If he hadn't been, Mailleux wouldn't have bothered to stop working." "Well, what do you think of my little explanation?" "If I told you what I thought, Dormont, you would be surprised." "Careful, it's on the right." "The first farm." "You're right." "She'll be just fine without an operation." "But there must have been a few anxious days." "Oh, yes!" "We had 48 very difficult hours." " But we watched her constantly." " Her mother wasn't sure she'd recover?" "No, she wasn't." "And the nurse wasn't either." "There wasn't a nurse." "Really!" "Where can I wash my hands?" "Over here." "Madame, Dr. Ancelin was right." "Your daughter is just about out of danger." "Thank you, doctor." "So, it seems that the case isn't too serious." " And that's your formal opinion." " Yes." "The crisis has passed." "It's now just a question of keeping an eye on her." "By the way, who should I ask about my fees?" "Mme. Bastard asked me to give you this." "She knew how much I charge for a visit?" " I knew and that was enough." " Of course." "I have to rush off now." "I have a meeting in Chartres." "Yes, the opening session of the Provincial Medical Association." " You're aware of it?" "Of course." "But I haven't yet received my invitation." "Just an oversight I'm sure." " Of course." "A little more water, please." "After all, I am the first doctor in the province, by alphabetical order, obviously." "To be frank, my dear chap, we really didn't think it would interest you." "You lead such an independent life, so far removed... from a conventionial life, that it seemed to us... that it wasn't such a great idea." "You couldn't admit just anybody into your distinguished association." "Certainly not a barfly, who lives openly with his mistress." ""If he at least had the decency to drink in more classy establishments, and not be the lover of another's man's wife, we could give him a chance." "But that's not the case!" "And to top it off, he always speaks his mind." "And we can't have that." "Keep him out."" "And you call that an "Association"?" "Are you looking for a fight?" "Just a clarification." "I know how things went, Dormont." "I know that the decision to leave me out was made because the president of the assembly intervened." " And you are the president" " You're right." "But you don't understand the thinking behind what I did." "It wasn't about your private life at all." "I don't approve of it, but I can live with it." "Then explain to me how you can exclude a doctor, from an association of doctors." "Because you're not a real doctor." "You treat your patients in a way, that we consider unworthy of your professional qualifications." " Imagine that!" "We know, that in numerous cases, you haven't hesitated to use the kinds of therapies that have been suspect for some time." "The healing propeties of plants, the influence of the planets, old-wives remedies and other nonsense." "Other nonsense, really?" "Would you like to compare our respective number of successes?" "That's not the point." "I was just pointing out, that your sorcery, is not worthy of your title of doctor." "You only have to look at the statements you made about Mesdieu." "He's a complete charlatan and yet was acquitted because of you." "A charlatan!" "Mesdieu!" "He cured more than 50 patients." "I analyzed the case histories, myself." "There was no room for any doubt." "You don't have any right to judge him." "He did only good work." "He had no right to do it, and you have no right to say that." "Be careful!" "You can be ridiculous, Dormont." " You talk like one of Moliere's doctors." " Fine." "You're right." "In any case, it's not worth having a discusion with a drunk." "But we'll see who has the last word, you or me." "Me!" "I'll make you pay for your insolence." "We'll meet again." "Don't wish too hard for that, Dormont." "Goodnight." "Goodbye." "Doctor!" "Still up and out at this time?" "Pure debauchery!" "Good evening, Aubignac." " Anything new, inspector?" " Nothing." "We'd all be better off in bed, but the beer's cold, and it helps to pass the time." "Inspector Chambon isn't here?" "He had a meeting in Chartres with the Prosecutor." "We're waiting for him." " A glass of Vouvray, doctor?" " No, a Perrier." "What's the matter with you?" "Are you sick?" "No, I'm being careful." " It's never too late." " Here he is." "That's the way he brakes on his bad days." "Good evening, gentlemen." " Good evening, inspector." " Well, boss?" "Nothing." "This damned case is slipping through our fingers like soap." "I could scream." " A beer for me." " O.K., inspector." "Mailleux lived off women." "It's quite evident." "So that's where we should be looking." "Even though we know that the murderer cleaned up behind himself with amazing skill." "I've never seen anything like it!" "By the way, inspector, Have you seen Dr. Dormont?" "Dr. Dormont?" "No." "I was with him this morning at a consultation." "He told me he wanted to come and see you one of these days." " Something to do with the case?" " Yes." "It seems, that he has an important statement to make." "What about?" "Well, I didn't think to ask him." "Come on, doctor!" "You've got your head in the clouds!" "It could be of tremendous importance!" " I'm really sorry." " Where does he live?" "Villa Marie-Jeanne, on the road to Chartres." " Let's go!" " Now?" "But you'll be waking him up!" "If there's to be one of us who's not sleeping tonight," "I prefer that's it's him." "Come on, let's get going!" " Are you coming?" " No, thanks." "It's obvious you've never woken up an important surgeon this late at night." "It could be fascinating!" "Let's go!" "I'm taking you with me." " Tournier!" " Yes, M. Aubignac!" "Since you insist..." "Put the drinks on my bill." " Right, M. Aubignac." " Good night." " Good night." " Goodnight, gentlemen." " Is this it?" " Yes." "This is Villa Marie-Jeanne." "I know it." "Right, doctor?" "I think so." "I was only here once." "There must be a bell." "What's this?" "A man!" "Noel, flashlight!" "Who is it?" "Dormont." "An accident?" "A murder." "Examine him, doctor." "But, above all, don't move the body." "Yes..." "Stabbed through the heart." "Death was instantaneous, I imagine." " Like the other one." " Like the other one." "Doctor, when did you see your colleague for the last time?" "This very day." "I called him to consult about a sick little girl, who was worrying me a lot." "I wanted to get his opinion." "And where was this consultation?" "At the Bastard's farm." "It's about 5 km from Dormont's clinic." "It was during our trip out there that he told me he wanted to see you." " Did you come back together?" " No." "No." "I had to talk to the sick girl's mother." " Dormont left me there." " What time was it?" "4:00 or 4:30." "Thank you, doctor." "Noel, take the car, go to Chartres and let the authorities know." " Aubignac, do you want to go with him?" " Yes, of course." "We'll see each here or at the police station." "Right." " Was he married?" " No." "O.K. I'm going to question the servants." " Doctor, would you do me a favor?" " Of course, inspector." "Let Louvet, the lieutenant at the police station, know." " Tell him I'm here and he should join me." " Right." "TERROR IN LORMIERES" "Is a perfect crime possible?" "Yes, say the inhabitants of Lormieres." "A garage owner and a great surgeon, murdered. ." "How are you, doctor?" "Did you see that?" "Two thousand idiots trampling each other trying to see something." "And there's nothing to see anyway." " Have you seen the Paris papers?" " Yes." "Titles six columns wide!" "Blood in the headlines...!" "It's funny!" "If they had died a natural death, no-one would have given them a thought." "But, of course, it's murder." "And, suddenly, everyone forgets how to breathe, and shares in the collective shudder." "The murderer must be happy, don't you think?" "Put yourself in his place." "Perhaps he's out there, watching us." " Funny, isn't it?" " Yes." "Who is it?" "That fat woman?" "That distinguished-looking gentleman, standing on tiptoes..." "It might even be that young woman who looks so serious." "Or the guy in the baseball hat over there." " Perhaps it's you, Aubignac!" " And why not you, doctor?" " Anything's possible." " No, not you." "Anyone but you." " Why?" "Am I too stupid?" " Doctor!" "Not wicked enough, perhaps?" "And yet, I have the impression that the person who committed these murders is nobody special." "We could be dealing with a normal everyday person." "For an ordinary person, he has a very organized brain." "Well, you know, strong feelings pushed beyond a certain point can make a genius out of anybody." "Anger, for instance." " Suffering, hate, fear." " He must be having a good laugh, as long as his remorse isn't getting the better of him." "You smoke?" "Yes, on special occasions." "So, you don't need to sculpt the Venus de Milo or write Phaedre in order to be a great man." "You just have to kill." "And kill well." "Fame doesn't care!" "What do you know about it?" "Perhaps it does." "Who can say whether the murderer is, in fact, a poor unfortunate soul who has to bear the weight of the two dead bodies?" "What's he thinking about now?" "About his fame?" "About his genius?" "I'm not so sure." "Perhaps he's thinking about his childhood ambitions." "Ambitions that were great, pure and magnificent, larger than life." "And he must be telling himself, that it's all over now." "He can't recreate them, and he can't go back and undo what he has done." "Perhaps, that's what remorse really is, the realization that you've killed your 20 year-old self." "Come on, doctor!" "You're giving me the creeps!" "Oh, I'm sorry!" "Please excuse me." "There's always a little bit of a philosopher, hiding away in every doctor's heart." " Goodnight, my friend." " But what are you doing?" " You're leaving, just like that?" " Yes." "Come over to Tournier's cafe!" "The insepctor is there, fighting with my colleagues from Paris." "It'll be fun." "No, one gets tired of everything, you know." "O.K. I'll be right back." "How are you, doctor?" "Have you seen this mess?" "It's madness!" "You have to be some kind of animal to stand around in the middle of the street." "Not an aminal." "Just completely stupid." "Animals are usually very intelligent and follow their instincts." "Stupid, believe me." "Homo stultus:" ""Stupid man"." " Have you been here long?" " An hour and a half!" "Apparently they're going to put out an official communique." "A communique!" "Can you imagine?" "I'm wondering what good that will do." "They'd do better to catch the murderer." "What are they waiting for?" "They have to find him first!" " Goodbye, M. Jardal." " Goodbye, doctor." "Doctor!" "Hey, doctor!" "Could you drive me to Mareuil?" "Mareuil?" "What for?" "Another dead body?" "No." "But they just notified me, that the police have arrested a suspect." "I don't really believe it, but I'd like to go and see." " O.K." " We'll be back late, around 10:00 p.m." " Any objection?" " None." "I've finished my calls." " And Madeleine?" " I'll call her." "Let's go!" "NOTICE FROM THE MAYOR" "A reward of 50.000 francs is offered toanypersonwho  can give information leadingtothespeedy application of justice ..." "Hello?" "Put me through to the police station, please." "My number here is 53." "Yes, quickly." "Thank you." "Hello?" "Hello?" "The police station?" "It's Madeleine Bodin." "Yes, Bodin." "Who am I speaking to?" "Could I speak to Lieutenant Louvet?" "It's urgent." "He's not there?" "And inspector Chambon?" "Not there either?" "Another half hour?" "It's very urgent." "It's about the murders." "Yes." "About the murderer." "Right." "I'll be right there." "Are you here?" "Michel!" " Surprised?" " Not at all." " Were you going out?" "Yes, I'm going for a walk." "You came back a while ago, didn't you?" "Yes, but I forgot something in the car." "A surprise!" "For me?" " You want to know what it is?" " Yes, in a minute." "I haven't been out all day and I want to get a bit of air." "You must be tired." "Your slippers are upstairs." "I really think you should see the surprise first." " Is is a piece of jewelry?" " Yes, a surprise piece of jewelry." "When you see it, you won't want to go out any more." "We could have gone to your office." "No." "You'll soon understand why." "Well?" "You're in such a hurry, Madeleine!" "You don't enjoy the anticipation of pleasures to come, do you?" " But, I really do." " So where is this famous surprise?" " Come on, give it to me now." " It's right in front of you." "I am the famous surprise." "Yes, me, since I got back home an hour earlier than you expected." "Oh, right!" "Well, if it's a joke..." "You're worried about the time?" "Afraid of keeping him waiting?" " Who?" " Inspector Chambon." "Inspector Chambon?" "Beginning to get the feeling, that you won't collect your 50.000 francs." " What 50.000 francs?" " The 50,000 franc reward." "Help!" "Help!" " Help!" " Why are you yelling so loudly?" "You know perfectly well that no-one can hear you here." "That's why you had to come up to the bedroom." "Now do you understand?" "You know perfectly well that the door catch is bent and I'm the only one who can open it." "Come on!" "You'll hurt your hands!" "So..., you thought I was a murderer who could be denounced?" "A stupid murderer, who could be sold to the police by a woman, for 50.000 francs!" "My poor Madeleine!" "I've already spared your life once, but you have the crazy habit of getting rid of everything I give you." "Too bad for you!" "You're not going to kill me, are you?" "I beg you, Michel!" "Please, don't kill me!" "I'll love you." "I'll obey you." "I'll belong to you." "I'll never leave you." "No, I'll be... your loving companion, Michel." "But, please, don't kill me." " What about your call to the police." " I'll tell them something or other..." "I know!" "I'll tell them it was someone else!" "Anyone you like!" "Just tell me who... they'll believe me, Michel." "But I beg you, don't kill me!" " Don't kill me, Michel!" " You're ugly!" "I am going to kill you." "I've killed animals worth more than you." "I am going to kill you." "Just like I killed the others." "And no one will ever find anything." "Because I am the best." "Do you understand?" "Yes, Michel." "You're the best, yes, you are." "An artist, a genius." "a master!" "Yes, Michel." "A great artist, yes..." "And it's thanks to you, by the way!" "Because if you hadn't existed, Madeleine," "I would have gone on being a good man my entire life." "You taught me how to kill." "It's thanks to you that I know I can kill better than anyone else!" "And your death will be my masterpiece." "No, Michel!" "You found the car in front of the house." "The motor was still running." "You jumped behind the wheel." "And when you got to the creek, the steering column broke." "It's over, Domingo." "She's done what I wanted her to do." "She hasn't taken the car." "If she had taken it, nothing would have happened to her." "As you see, she had her chance." "Now I can't do anything." "She'll run fast." "She'll take the shortcut." "In less than a minute, she'll be on the bridge." "The bridge..." "She won't get across it." "A hole she can't see is there, on the bridge, waiting for her." "Madeleine." "Madeleine!" "No!" "Not her!" "No!" "Not Madeleine!" "Madeleine!" "Madeleine!" "Madeleine!" "Madeleine, stop!" "Don't take the bridge!" "Madeleine!" "Stop!" "Don't take the bridge!" "Don't take the bridge!" "Thank you, Pierre." "Go to the hotel." "I'll join you later." " So, you're leaving this evening?" " Yes, this evening." "May I, inspector?" "Thank you." "Well, you've finished?" "Yes." "We just need to get back to Paris." " Thank you for your courtesy." " And don't forget our congratulations." "Another success under your belt." "I'll give you a headline this big..." "We'll talk about it on the way." "No last minute statements, Inspector?" "No." "You know the details of this case as well as I do." " I've never seen anything so sad." " By the way, how's Dr. Ancelin?" "He's still missing." "Inspector Noel is looking for him." " Do you think he's committed suicide?" " It's possible." "His own life is the only thing he's got left to lose." " Goodbye, inspector." " Goodbye, gentlemen." " Goodbye." " See you soon." "See you soon, inspector." "In París." "Something bothering you, inspector?" "Yes, every time I find out how a murder was carried out" "I get very depressed." "It's all so ugly!" "Let's go and have dinner, inspector." "It'll do you good." "That's a very good idea." "Are you coming with us, Aubignac." " Hey!" "Aubignac!" " Pardon me?" " Are you coming to dinner?" " I'm not hungry, thank you." "It's not about being hungry, my friend." "It's about getting a bit drunk." "Come on!" "O.K, let's go to Tournier's cafe." "You gave us a real fright!" "I'm happy to see you, doctor." "We've been looking for you for 3 days." "3 days!" "Much longer than that!" "Believe me, inspector." "Much longer!" "I'm going to give you a nice gift, inspector." "You too, Aubignac." "You can go and get your special edition ready." "I'm the one who murdered Mailleux, Dormont and Madeleine Bodin." "Oh come on, doctor!" "Are you mad?" "That's not possible!" "One day I found out that Madeleine was Mailleux's mistress." "And I killed him that same night." "Go on." "Then it was Dormont's turn." "I depised him." "He was proud and insolent." "When he told me he knew some details about Mailleux's murder," "I understood I had to kill him like the other one, quickly and well." "And so that's what I did." "And when I killed him it was as though," "I had rid myself of an old dusty library." "Listen, inspector, I would like..." "And Madeleine Bodin?" "She was going to give me up." "She was only interested in money!" "Everything bad happened because of her." "I could have got away from you, inspector, and continued to fight, and defend myself." "I had figured everything out." "Everything!" "Except, that when I killed Madeleine, I was really killing myself." "Now that she's dead, nothing interests me any more." "My poor doctor!" "No, no, no, inspector!" "No, no, no!" "That's all over with!" "No more "poor doctor"!" "No more "poor devil"!" "No more "fool", "drunk" "zero"!" "All of you only thought of me that way because I let you." "But now I'm going to die because I'm no longer interested in living any more!" " Have you finished, doctor?" " Haven't you had enough yet?" "For the last week I've had you all trembling with fear, bunch of idiots that you are!" "And once you know how I killed..." "That's exactly what I'd like to know, doctor." "You've said you did it." "What with?" "With Madeleine's scissors." "Where are they?" " At home." " Really?" "Go there and you'll find them!" "I've already found them, doctor, but not at your house." "I found them on Madeleine Bodin's body." "Why?" "Becasue she was the one who did the killing." "Madeleine Bodin killed Mailleux." "She was his mistress." "She killed him because he wanted to leave her." "Everything proves it." "The letters we found at your house this afternoon, the height of the blow that was struck and the fingerprints on the scissors." "Because that's how I wanted it!" "I needed to incriminate her to make her keep quiet!" "Ingenious!" "Then she found out, doubtless from you, that Dormont was about to reveal some important information." "She got scared, went to wait for him at the gates of his villa, and killed him, just like she killed Mailleux." " It's insane!" " It's logical!" "A woman's crime, committed for a woman's motives, with a woman's weapon which, to top it off, bears only that woman's fingerprints." "Forgive me, doctor, but I'm not a child." "But I'm telling you, it was all just how I wanted it!" "I prepared it!" "I figured it all out!" "Prove it." "There is no proof." "I didn't want there to be any!" "That's a very weak argument, doctor." "Everything's clear." "Everything fits together." "After the two murders, Madeleine fell victim to a nervous breakdown, which can happen to even the most clear-headed woman." "She decided to give herself up to Justice, and phoned here." "She was on her way to us to clear up the matter, when the accident happened." "Madeleine was incapable of thinking up such a crime, incapable... of organizing it, incapable of carrying it out." "And you even less so, doctor, and I'm not saying that to upset you." "The technical perfection of the two murders would not be possible for a good person like you." "It's the work of a brain that's lucid, sharp, precise, quick." "I'm sorry to disagree with you, but your entire life hasn't shown any sign of anything like that." "You were in love with this woman, life is not of much interest to you any more, so you wanted to take the blame for these crimes, to erase the memory of her death." "Unfortunately, I have neither the wish nor the right to gloss over the truth." "Right." " And if it had been true?" " No way!" "I've known him for 5 years." "He's incapable of doing such a thing." "Right." "And, anyway, he's not in his normal state." "Or rather, he is in his normal state." " He's obviously been drinking..." " Listen, the psychology behind a murder is just as important as it's execution." "From a psychological point of view, do you think the doctor would be capable of committing the three exceptionally well-thought out murders, that we're dealing with?" " Certainly not." "There's no discussion possible." " What about Madeleine Bodin?" " She was fascinating!" "Not very intelligent, but extremely cunning." "She hated me beacuse she knew I could see through her." "A brandy." " A brandy." " Here you are." "By the way, doctor, my sincere condolences." "Such a lovely woman!" "Who would ever have thought!" "Those kind of accidents are really terrible." " It wasn't an accident." " Oh, I thought it was." "I killed her!" " Me!" "Do you hear?" "Me!" " Yes, of course..." "Don't get angry, doctor." "Another one." "I had to kill her, Do you understand?" "It was her own fault." "I had to kill the others too..." "Mailleux, Dormont." "That was her fault too!" "It was all her fault!" "So, you killed all those people?" "It was a real massacre!" "I had to do it." "They forced me to do it." "One, twice, three times." "And now, they won't believe me!" "No one!" "No one wants to believe me!" "They're idiots!" "I believe you." "I do too." "I always believe you!" "I was the one who killed Mailleux." "And Dormont." "And Madeleine." " And the motorcyclist." " Of course, we were forgetting about him!" "And Henri IV?" "Was that you too, by any chance?" "Come on, doctor!" "Come on!" "Calm down." "We believe you." "Here, it's my treat..." "Let's drink a toast to the dead, shall we?" "I'm going to kill myself, but I want you to know, that in spite of appearances, I was a great man." "I want to tell you why and how I killed..." "It took me just 10 minutes, to conceive of the perfect crime, with every detail taken care of, which no one on earth would be able to figure out." "I don't want you to think you are burying a fool!" "Doctor Ancelin." "Attorney General of the Republic." "Chartres." "But, even so, when he's buried, he will be thought of as a fool." "But, even so, when he's buried, he will be thought of as a fool." "But, even so, when he's buried, he will be thought of as a fool." "But, even so, when he's buried, he will be thought of as a fool."