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Gamache made a move toward Brébeuf but Lemieux stepped between thee He stopped, but just, and his eyes never left Brébeuf

‘I knew soed between us,’ said Gamache ‘You were distant, polite but no er on Nothing worthafter another A birthday forgotten, a party ned to insult But I couldn’t believe it I chose not to believe it’ I was afraid to believe it, thought Gamache Afraid it was true and somehow I’d lost ht you were preoccupied with family problems I never dreamed…’ He ran out of words But one last one formed and fell froht after Arnot and the others were sentenced? The case was over, but you were in disgrace Tossed out of the council Catherine and I invited you and Reine-Marie for dinner, supposedly to cheer you up But you were in fine spirits We went into nac and you told me then you didn’t care You’d done what you had to Your career was in tatters, but still you were happy After you left, I sat reading Soave me In it I found a quote that devastated ht and put it in ht out his wallet From the billfold he withdrew a folded piece of paper, softened and worn as a love letter‘It’s from AD 960 Supposedly said by Abd-er-Rahman the Third, of Spain’

He sounded like a nervous schoolboy in front of the class Gaasped with the pain of it Brébeuf cleared his throat and read on

‘I have now reigned about fifty years in victory or peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies Riches and honors, power and pleasure have waited onappear to have been wanting In this situation I have diligently nuenuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they ahed But Armand Gamache’s heart broke

Brébeuf carefully refolded the paper and placed it back in his wallet

‘All our lives I’ve been smarter, faster, better at tennis and hockey than you,’ said Brébeuf ‘I got better grades and found love first Had three sons Five grandchildren to your one I won seven commendations How many have you?’

Gamache shook his head

‘You don’t even know, do you? I beat you out for Superintendent and became your boss I watched as you ruined your career So why are you the happy one?’

The question pierced Gah his heart, and burst into his head forcing hiht he was seeing things Standing slightly behind Lemieux was someone else In the shadows

Then the one shadow separated froht betorlds

‘What do you want?’ he asked Brébeuf

‘He wants you to resign,’ said Lemieux, still apparently unaware of Nichol ‘But we both know that won’t be enough’

‘Of course it’s enough,’ Brébeuf snapped ‘We’ve won’

‘And then what?’ asked Lemieux ‘You’re a weak h the ranks, but how can I trust a uarantee is to hold so back’ He took out his gun and looked at Gaht here in this house never to draw un unless I mean to use it It’s a lesson I took to heart But I don’t mean to use it You do’

He thrust the revolver at Brébeuf ‘Take it’ Lemieux’s boyish voice was s me to shoot my friend?’

‘Your friend? You’ve already killed that relationship Why not the o, you know Look at what he did to Arnot There’s no way even if he resigned he’d let this drop He’d spend the rest of his life trying to bring you down’

Brébeuf dropped his hands to his sides Leun

‘Le to keep his eye on both Lemieux and Nichol behind him He saw Nichol reach for her hip

‘Stop’