Chapter 47

           THENEWSOFLaureRichis’smurderspreadthroughtheregionofGrasseasfastasifthemessagehadbeen“Thekingisdead!”or“War’sbeendeclared!”or“Pirateshavelandedonthecoast!”-andtheawfulsenseofterrorittriggeredwassimilaraswell.Allatoncethefearthattheyhadsocarefullyforgottenwasbackagain,asvirulentasithadbeenlastautumnandwithalltheaccompanyingphenomena:panic,outrage,anger,hystericalsuspicions,desperation.Peoplestayedintheirhousesatnight,lockeduptheirdaughters,barricadedthemselvesin,mistrustedoneanother,andsleptnomore.Everyoneassumeditwouldcontinuethistimeasithadbefore,amurderaweek.Thecalendarseemedtohavebeensetbacksixmonths.Thedreadwasmoreparalyzing,however,thansixmonthsearlier,forpeoplefelthelplessatthesuddenreturnofadangerthattheyhadthoughtwellbehindthem.Ifeventhebishop’sanathemahadproveduseless!IfevenAntoineRichis,thegreatRichis,therichestmanintown,thesecondconsul,apowerful,prudentmanwhohadeverykindofassistanceavailable,ifevenhecouldnotprotecthischild!Ifthemurderer’shandwasnotbedeterredevenbythehallowedbeautyofLaure-forindeedsheseemedasainttoeveryonewhohadknownher,especiallynow,afterwards,nowthatshewasdead-whathopewasthereofescapingthismurderer?Hewasmorecruelthantheplague,foryoucouldfleebeforetheplague,butnotbeforethismurderer,asthecaseofRichishadproved.Apparentlyhepossessedsupernaturalpowers.