The Lerouge Case · Chapters
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Chapter companions for The Lerouge Case by Émile Gaboriau.
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Chapter 1
The Lerouge Case
The chapter introduces the discovery of Widow Lerouge's murder and the initial investigation, with Tabaret arriving at the crime scene and beginning his deductions.
Chapter 2
I
The chapter opens with the discovery of Widow Lerouge's murder at her cottage in Bougival. The commissary and gendarmes arrive at the scene, finding her body with her face in the ashes and two stab wounds between the shoulders. The commissary begins a preliminary inquiry, interviewing neighbors and witnesses, but learns little about the victim's past. Widow Lerouge was a stranger to the area, supposedly from Normandy, who lived modestly but was known for her fine clothes and jewels. She was talkative yet secretive about her past, mentioning a husband lost at sea and a son named Jacques who was a sailor. The investigating magistrate, M. Daburon, arrives with the detective police, including old Tabaret, and begins his own investigation. Public opinion, led by Gevrol, points to a tall, sunburnt man in a gray blouse as the likely culprit.
Chapter 3
II
M. Daburon and old Tabaret collaborate on the investigation of Widow Lerouge's murder. Tabaret meticulously examines the crime scene, deducing the murderer's actions: a well-dressed young man who wore lavender kid gloves, used a sharpened foil, and sought documents which he burned. He predicted the murderer threw a bundle into the Seine, which is later found, confirming his theories. The chapter also reveals Tabaret's personal history and his eccentric dedication to police work.
Chapter 4
III
Old Tabaret, obsessed with the Widow Lerouge murder, returns home late and forgets to eat as he wrestles with the case. He suddenly deduces that a child is involved. Later, he visits Noel Gerdy, who is distraught over Madame Gerdy's shock upon learning of the murder. Noel reveals that Widow Lerouge was his nurse, deepening the mystery and Tabaret's determination.
Chapter 5
IV
Noel Gerdy reveals to M. Tabaret that he is not Madame Gerdy's son, but the illegitimate son of Count Rheteau de Commarin and his mistress Valerie. He reads letters from the Count detailing a conspiracy to switch infants at birth, ensuring Noel's displacement. Noel laments that Widow Lerouge, who knew the truth, has been murdered, destroying his key evidence.
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