Manof Chpt 10

Chapter 10

The next morning Constantin and Bruce walked to the pleasant Auberge du Parc and chatted over coffee. It was just beneath the walls of the chateau. Marie-Claude slept in. It was Saturday and Constantin explained that he always had his coffee at the Auberge on Saturday morning.

There was nobody else in the restaurant and Constantin seemed relaxed.

Bruce opened the conversation. "Was there a police report?"

The count thought. "The detective kept making notes and I know they opened a file, but I read or received nothing."

"What sort of things did they ask you?

"The usual. Where was the painting hanging and was it always there?

When did you discover that it was missing or switched?
Did you touch anything?"

"And what did you answer?"
"It was always hanging in the same place. But last January it was moved as the room was painted.
No, I didn't move it after that. It was I who hung it and I who discovered the switch. At that time I did hold it to examine it. There were finger prints discovered but only mine.
Things like that."

Bruce shifted in his seat. "Since last January, was the room used for anything special?"

"No." The painting was finished in late February. I can check my cheque book. I paid the painters before they left.

"Were you in there often?"

"Yes, I was in that room but not often. There were boxes stored there."

"What floor was the room on?"

""The ground floor."

"Was there any evidence of a break-in."

"No. But there was some water damage, the day of the big storm in late March. A window blew open and the rain came in on the floor."

"Are you sure the wind blew the window open?"

"I just assumed so. Sometimes in warm weather the windows are not locked and we let the wind come through. This is a very warm building."

"How soon after the storm and damage did you discover it?"

"A few days, I'd say. Why do you ask?"

"Well'" started Bruce. "If someone came in before or during the storm and failed to close it properly, there would have been water damage. I'm trying to zero in on an approximate date. Someone could have failed to lock the window or someone could have unlocked it. I assume the lock is on the inside."
"Yes. It locks by hand. It won't open very easily from the outside."

"So we can deduce that it was left open or someone opened it from the inside."

As Constantin thought about that, Bruce continued." Did the police ask about the window?"

(Bruce inquired whether the police had asked about the window)

"No," said Constantin but they did examine it, inside and outside."

"Did they find anything?"

"They didn't say. But we can ask them."

"I'm concerned about the day of the rain storm. I'd like to speak to someone who might record the daily weather."

Constantin looked surprised. But, I do that every night. I keep a weather log. It's an old military habit. I can certainly tell you when it rained in late March. But the window being open and the rain can be a coincidence."
"True," said Bruce, pouring another cup of black coffee, but we can start by making assumptions. Once we know the exact date of the robbery we can dismiss certain facts and zero in on others."

Back in Constantin's library they found his weather log. He skimmed the pages then read aloud.

"It was seasonally warm for March. From the fifteenth to the 29th it averaged close to 15 degrees Celsius. There was no rain until March 31st when it started getting warmer." He turned pages. "Here, on the 3rd of April we had strong winds and thunder storms through most of the night. It didn't rain again until, let me see, April 7th.

"And when did you discover that the painting had been switched?"

Bruce thought. "I'd have to check with the police in Montignac. I called them the moment I discovered the crime."

"Good." Said Bruce. "I'd like to make a trip to Montignac and speak to the detective who was on the case."

"Not a problem," said Constantin. "I will call them immediately. I can go with you or they can come here. I'll ask."

It was soon arranged. They were in Constantin's 1948 American Buick, recently imported from the United States. The count had a weakness for American cars. They headed south west. The investigating officer would be waiting for them.

Bruce read through the notes he had made. He wondered what the investigating officer had found. He would know soon enough.

Click here for Chapter 11.


	Chapter 10 The next morning Constantin and Bruce walked to the pleasant Auberge du Parc and chatted over coffee. It was just beneath the walls of the chateau. Marie-Claude slept in. It was Saturday and Constantin explained that he always had his coffee at the Auberge on Saturday morning. There was nobody else in the restaurant and Constantin seemed relaxed. Bruce opened the conversation. "Was there a police report?" The count thought. "The detective kept making notes and I know they opened a file, but I read or received nothing." "What sort of things did they ask you? "The usual. Where was the painting hanging and was it always there? When did you discover that it was missing or switched? Did you touch anything?" "And what did you answer?" "It was always hanging in the same place. But last January it was moved as the room was painted. No, I didn't move it after that. It was I who hung it and I who discovered the switch. At that time I did hold it to examine it. There were finger prints discovered but only mine. Things like that." Bruce shifted in his seat. "Since last January, was the room used for anything special?" "No." The painting was finished in late February. I can check my cheque book. I paid the painters before they left. "Were you in there often?" "Yes, I was in that room but not often. There were boxes stored there." "What floor was the room on?" ""The ground floor." "Was there any evidence of a break-in." "No. But there was some water damage, the day of the big storm in late March. A window blew open and the rain came in on the floor." "Are you sure the wind blew the window open?" "I just assumed so. Sometimes in warm weather the windows are not locked and we let the wind come through. This is a very warm building." "How soon after the storm and damage did you discover it?" "A few days, I'd say. Why do you ask?" "Well'" started Bruce. "If someone came in before or during the storm and failed to close it properly, there would have been water damage. I'm trying to zero in on an approximate date. Someone could have failed to lock the window or someone could have unlocked it. I assume the lock is on the inside." "Yes. It locks by hand. It won't open very easily from the outside." "So we can deduce that it was left open or someone opened it from the inside." As Constantin thought about that, Bruce continued." Did the police ask about the window?" (Bruce inquired whether the police had asked about the window) "No," said Constantin but they did examine it, inside and outside." "Did they find anything?" "They didn't say. But we can ask them." "I'm concerned about the day of the rain storm. I'd like to speak to someone who might record the daily weather." Constantin looked surprised. But, I do that every night. I keep a weather log. It's an old military habit. I can certainly tell you when it rained in late March. But the window being open and the rain can be a coincidence." "True," said Bruce, pouring another cup of black coffee, but we can start by making assumptions. Once we know the exact date of the robbery we can dismiss certain facts and zero in on others." Back in Constantin's library they found his weather log. He skimmed the pages then read aloud. "It was seasonally warm for March. From the fifteenth to the 29th it averaged close to 15 degrees Celsius. There was no rain until March 31st when it started getting warmer." He turned pages. "Here, on the 3rd of April we had strong winds and thunder storms through most of the night. It didn't rain again until, let me see, April 7th. "And when did you discover that the painting had been switched?" Bruce thought. "I'd have to check with the police in Montignac. I called them the moment I discovered the crime." "Good." Said Bruce. "I'd like to make a trip to Montignac and speak to the detective who was on the case." "Not a problem," said Constantin. "I will call them immediately. I can go with you or they can come here. I'll ask." It was soon arranged. They were in Constantin's 1948 American Buick, recently imported from the United States. The count had a weakness for American cars. They headed south west. The investigating officer would be waiting for them. Bruce read through the notes he had made. He wondered what the investigating officer had found. He would know soon enough. Click here for Chapter 11.