The Madness of Crowds (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #17)

by Louise Penny

I’m sorry.’ ‘I was wrong.’ ‘I don’t know.’” As he listed them, Chief Inspector Gamache raised a finger, until his palm was open.

“‘I need help.’”

But correct and right were two different things. As were facts and truth.

“You should. It’s about what happens when gullibility and fear meet greed and power.” “Nothing good?” said Armand, with a small smile. “You’re smarter than you look, garçon.” Stephen tapped the cover. “People will believe anything. Doesn’t make them stupid, just desperate. Interesting that the Chancellor would be reading this. She’s friends with Professor Robinson, right?” “It

“He was far beyond his depth, in his sea of glory,” said Gamache.

Gamache gave a small grunt of laughter. “How well you know me. Yes. Wolsey’s farewell, from Shakespeare’s Henry VIII. I’ve thought of it a few times when I’ve considered Dr. Gilbert in this whole thing. His ego propped open the door to his enemies.”

How well she remembered the Chief, sitting beside her, tearing the flaky croissant into bite-sized pieces. Then, instead of feeding her as everyone else did, he placed a small piece into her hand, and closed her fingers over it, until she gripped it. Then, as tears of embarrassment streamed down her cheeks, he gently lifted her hand to her mouth. It took a couple of tries. The bread kept slipping from her grasp, but the tears had stopped. As she concentrated. And finally, they had it. They cheered. As though she’d done something remarkable. Which she had. They did it again. And again. Until the croissant was all eaten. It tasted better than anything she’d ever had before, or since.