The Phantom of the Rue Royale: Nicolas Le Floch Investigation #3 - Jean-Francois Parot

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       Praise for Jean-François Parot

      ‘The period detail is marvellously evocative, Le Floch is brave and engaging …’ Economist

      ‘Parot succeeds brilliantly in his reconstruction of pre-revolutionary Paris, in splendid period detail.’ The Times

      ‘A solid and detailed evocation of pre-revolutionary France – the poverty and squalor, side by side with the wealth and splendour, are brought lovingly to life. And the plot has all the twists, turns and surprises the genre demands.’ Independent on Sunday

      ‘Jean-François Parot’s evocation of eighteenth-century Paris is richly imagined and full of fascinating historical snippets.’ Financial Times

      ‘… the superb Parisian detail and atmosphere … truly beguiles.’ The Times

      ‘An interesting evocation of place and period.’ The Literary Review

      THE PHANTOM OF RUE ROYALE

      JEAN-FRANÇOIS PAROT

      Translated from the French by Howard Curtis

      Ouvrage publié avec le concours du Ministère français chargé de la culture – Centre national du livre.

      This work is published with support from the French Ministry of Culture/Centre national du livre.

      For Monique Constant

      CONTENTS

      Title Page

      Dedication

      Epigraph

      Dramatis Personae

      The Phantom of Rue Royale

      I PLACE LOUIS XV

      II SARTINE AND SANSON

      III THE DEUX CASTORS

      IV TWISTS AND TURNS

      V AFFAIRS OF STATE

      VI FEAR

      VII PENTECOST

      VIII CHRISTOPHE DE BEAUMONT

      IX EXORCISM

      X LIGHT AND TRUTH

      XI THE HEARING

      XII ENDINGS

      Notes

      Acknowledgements

       Also by Jean-François Parot

      About the Author

      Copyright

       Background to The Phantom of Rue Royale

      For those readers coming to the adventures of Nicolas Le Floch for the first time, it is useful to know that in the first book in the series, The Châtelet Apprentice, the hero, a foundling raised by Canon Le Floch in Guérande, is sent away from his native Brittany by his godfather, the Marquis de Ranreuil, who is concerned about his daughter Isabelle’s growing fondness for the young man.

      On arrival in Paris he is taken in by Père Grégoire at the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites and on the recommendation of the marquis soon finds himself in the service of Monsieur de Sartine, Lieutenant General of Police in Paris. Under his tutelage, Nicolas is quick to learn and is soon familiar with the mysterious working methods of the highest ranks of the police. At the end of his year’s apprenticeship, he is entrusted with a confidential mission, one that will result in him rendering a signal service to Louis XV and the Marquise de Pompadour.

      Aided by his deputy and mentor, Inspector Bourdeau, and putting his own life at risk on several occasions, he successfully unravels a complicated plot. Received at court by the King, he is rewarded with the post of commissioner of police at the Châtelet and, under the direct authority of Monsieur de Sartine, continues to be assigned to special investigations.

       DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      NICOLAS LE FLOCH : a police commissioner at the Châtelet

      MONSIEUR DE SARTINE : Lieutenant General of Police in Paris

      MONSIEUR TESTARD DU LYS : Criminal Lieutenant of Police in Paris

      MONSIEUR DE SAINT-FLORENTIN : Minister of the King’s Household

      PIERRE BOURDEAU : a police inspector

      OLD MARIE : an usher at the Châtelet

      TIREPOT : a police spy

      RABOUINE : a police spy

      AIMÉ DE NOBLECOURT : a former procurator

      MARION : his cook

      POITEVIN : his servant

      CATHERINE GAUSS : a former canteen-keeper, Nicolas Le Floch’s maid

      GUILLAUME SEMACGUS : a naval surgeon

      CHARLES HENRI SANSON : the public executioner

      LA PAULET : a brothel-keeper

      LA SATIN : a prostitute

      PÈRE GRÉGOIRE : the apothecary of the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites

      MONSIEUR DE LA BORDE : First Groom of the King’s Bedchamber

      CHRISTOPHE DE BEAUMONT : Archbishop of Paris

      PÈRE GUY RACCARD : the diocese exorcist

      LANGLUMÉ : a major in the City Guards

      THE DUC DE RICHELIEU : a Marshal of France

      MONSIEUR BONAMY : the city historiographer and librarian

      KING LOUIS XV

      MADAME DU BARRY : the King’s mistress

      RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE : a writer

      MADEMOISELLE GUIMARD : a dancer

      CHARLES GALAINE : a furrier, aged 43 years

      ÉMILIE GALAINE : his second wife, aged 30 years

      JEAN GALAINE : his son from his first marriage, aged 22 years

      GENEVIÈVE GALAINE : his daughter from his second marriage, aged 7 years

      CHARLOTTE GALAINE : his elder sister, aged 45 years

      CAMILLE GALAINE : his younger sister, aged 40 years

      ÉLODIE GALAINE : his niece and ward, aged 19 years

      NAGANDA : a Micmac Indian, Élodie’s servant,

      LOUIS DORSACQ : an assistant in the Galaines’ shop, aged 24 years

      MARIE CHAFFOUREAU : the Galaines’ cook, aged 63 years

      ERMELINE GODEAU (known as MIETTE): the Galaines’ maid, aged 17 years

       I

       PLACE LOUIS XV

      What should have been a day so fair

      Becomes a day of mourning.

      The smell of death pervades the square

      Before

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