The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #5)

by Louise Penny

“Beyond the pale,” said Myrna. “I’m sorry?” “Do you know the expression, Chief Inspector?” “I’ve heard it, yes. It means someone’s done something unacceptable. That’s one way of looking at murder, I suppose.” “I didn’t mean that. Do you know where the expression comes from?” When Gamache shook his head she smiled. “It’s the sort of arcane knowledge a bookstore owner collects. It’s from medieval times. A fortress was built with thick stone walls in a circle. We’ve all seen them, right?” Gamache had visited many old castles and fortresses, almost all in ruins now, but it was the brightly colored illustrations from the books he’d pored over as a child he remembered most vividly. The towers with vigilant archers, the crenellated stone, the massive wooden doors. The moat and drawbridge. And inside the circle of the walls was a courtyard. When attacked the villagers would race inside, the drawbridge would be raised, the massive doors closed. Everyone inside was safe. They hoped. Myrna was holding out her palm, and circling it with a finger. “All around are walls, for protection.” Then her finger stopped its movement and rested on the soft center of her palm. “This is the pale.” “So if you’re beyond the pale…” “You’re an outsider,” said Myrna. “A threat.”