:

To him, the Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer was a private but engaging man, soft in voice and spirit, with a face that was unexpectedly handsome if one looked closely enough. Not much of a disciplinarian but harmless enough in society, even if his so called compassion did allow the occasional stray bitch of the gutter to wander free. During their meeting, the conversation had been refreshingly light, and the good Mayor was even considerate enough to bring into discussion the sad fact of the Prefect’s ailing sister, and to offer him his most profound condolences. Chabouillet was charmed, even if he was not convinced.

Even so, even he could not ignore the hard loathing restrained behind the eyes of his Chief Inspector, stood mute and stiff in the corner of the room. This observer watched them both with a disdain so heavy that it became a blight on the air they breathed.

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