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Updated: June 7, 2025
"I mean to say that if Captain Brocq died by an assassin's hand, the blame is mine!... I mean to say that if a confidential document disappeared from his rooms, it is because I took it!... I was his mistress!... I am responsible for his death!" There was a gasping silence: the sensation was intense. Juve, half hidden behind the cast-iron stove, alone remained unmoved.
Berthe, or Bobinette, was this third person, of course!... She is known to have visited Brocq repeatedly.... Now, what was she doing there what was her object? Well, we have to get a clear idea of what happened and draw our conclusions.
Something must have happened, for Brocq had abruptly stopped short in the midst of his directions. He had collapsed on the cushions of the taxi, and remained motionless. Other vehicles surrounded the automobile. Some ladies passing in a victoria noticed the captain. "Look, my dear," exclaimed one of them, "do you see how pale that man is? He seems to be ill!"...
An accomplice, during this time, or some hours before it matters little had stolen the document the Ministry are looking for.... Brocq knew Corporal Vinson ... you are aware of that, Fandor?" "Yes, yes! Please continue!" "Good. Vinson had the murdered Nichoune as his mistress.... Do you not think the link between these two names is evident?... Brocq and Nichoune have died by the same hand."...
He was going to take the lead in this conversation, but the young woman did not give him time. She continued in a rapid tone, on one note, almost as if she had repeated a lesson learned by heart. "Baron de Naarboveck, Monsieur, cannot tell you anything that you do not already know, except and there is no secret about it that Captain Brocq used to come here pretty regularly.
"I am very much behind time," she had murmured by way of farewell. Directly his mistress had gone, Brocq went to the window, watched her turn the corner of the rue de Lille, enter the rue des Saints-Pères, and go towards the quays. While he watched her he was trembling. A roll of paper was sticking out of Bobinette's muff. Brocq knew this paper: its appearance and colour were familiar to him.
Brocq's mistress was not a society woman, as you thought: on the contrary, she was a girl of the lower orders ... a music-hall singer, called Nichoune ... of Châlons!" "You have proof of it?" The colonel, with a superior air, held out a packet of letters to Juve. "Here is the correspondence letters written by Brocq to the girl! One of my collaborators seized them at girl's place."...
The old keeper of the records, Gaudin, who was methodically sorting a voluminous correspondence which was to be laid before Commandant Dumoulin, put a question to Armandelle: "Lieutenant, is it not a captain of the engineers who is to take the place of this poor Captain Brocq?" "True enough, Gaudin! His nomination was signed by the minister yesterday. We expect him this morning at half-past nine.
"Gently, Monsieur Henri, gently, if you please," whined the old man, "I was only thinking what is always the case: 'Look for the woman!" "The disappearance of the document," continued de Loubersac, "is coincident with the death of Captain Brocq so it is supposed."...
Hofferman continued: "Ah, well, you are to take on the work begun by Captain Brocq.... Now tell me, Captain, what importance do you attach to the orders regarding the roll-call, the mustering and distribution of the mechanics and operatives of the artillery in the various corps from the point of view of mobilisation, that is?" "It is of the very greatest importance, Colonel." "Good!"
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