Page 111 (1/2)

‘Are you all right?’ He took the tray of drinks from her and placed it on its normal spot on the piano

‘Just a little stressed Tried to paint this afternoon but Peter was right Best not to try too hard if the muse isn’t there Fortunately I had the dinner to concentrate on’

Clara looked as though she’d rather gnaw off her foot than be at this dinner party

Olivier took the ceramic bowl of home-made pâté from Gabri, as supposed to circulate with it but had decided to stand by the fire and talk to Jeanne instead

‘Pâté?’ he asked Beauvoir, who took a large slice of baguette and smeared it thickly

‘So, I hear you’re a witch,’ Gabri said to Jeanne, and the room fell silent

‘I prefer Wicca, but yes,’ said Jeanne matter-of-factly

‘Pâté?’ asked Olivier, grateful to have the appetizers to hide behind Would that they’d brought a horse

‘Thank you,’ said Jeanne

Ruth arrived, sto room Beauvoir took the distraction as a chance to speak to Jeanne privately

‘Agent Le her into a quiet corner

‘Really? That’s interesting,’ though she didn’t look interested

‘It was actually There was no school’

‘I’h in Montreal’

‘But that’s iitated, just the way Beauvoir wanted his suspects He didn’t like this woman, this witch

‘The school burned doenty years ago Convenient, don’t you think?’ He got up before she could respond

‘Where’s et here earlier before you drank it all,’ she said to Garateful someone more maladroit than Gabri was finally in the room

‘I’ve hidden bottles all over the house and if you’re nice to ht tell you where some are’