The Tower Room

With Christina slowly dying

I would stay at Chatement because I must, because I had promised to be there until the end. As for the others—they didn't really belong here either, but they stayed because of invisible bonds to this great and famous woman.

There was Paul, who had been far more than simple servant to "Madame" for over twenty years. And Gilbert, who had insisted on coming to this forsaken place to play the role of loving husband for these few remaining months. And Ernestine, who would not have left Paris for any other living soul. And then her son, her would-be biographer, and her brother—all arriving at once, each one's coming a myserty to all by Christina. And—finally—me, Darney, orphan and protégé.

So there we were, unhappily ensconced together in that oppressive sanctuary between sea and mountains waiting for the end, when the first of the murders were discovered…