Du Paty opened his file. ‘We have, Minister. I have consulted Alphonse Bertillon, head of the identification branch of the Préfecture of Police. He says the
‘So one says yes and one says no? That’s experts for you!’ Mercier turned to Sandherr. ‘Is Dreyfus back in Paris yet?’
Sandherr said, ‘He’s having dinner with his wife’s parents, the Hadamards: his father-in-law is a diamond merchant — you know how they specialise in portable property. We have the building under watch.’
Boisdeffre interrupted: ‘Isn’t it quite tempting, Colonel, if we know where he is, simply to have him arrested tonight?’
‘No, General,’ replied Sandherr, shaking his head emphatically, ‘with the greatest respect, absolutely not. You don’t know these people as well as I do. You don’t know the way they operate. The moment they discover we have Dreyfus in custody, the whole force of upper Jewdom will swing into action to agitate for his release. It’s essential that he simply disappears with the minimum of fuss and we have him to ourselves for at least a week. I think Colonel du Paty’s plan is a good one.’
Mercier turned his impassive, masklike face to du Paty. ‘Go on.’
‘I have concluded that the most secure location in which to arrest Dreyfus is inside the ministry itself. General Gonse has already sent him a telegram ordering him to attend a duty inspection in General Boisdeffre’s office at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. .’
‘In civilian dress,’ put in Gonse, ‘so that if anyone sees him afterwards, when he arrives at the prison, they won’t realise he’s an army officer.’
‘. . so we’ll arrest him here in the rue Saint-Dominique, in the Chief of the General Staff’s office.’
Mercier said, ‘What if he suspects a trap?’
‘Ah well, this is where Major Picquart comes in,’ said du Paty.
I felt all eyes turn in my direction. I tried to stare ahead as if I knew what was coming.
‘Major Picquart,’ explained Gonse to Mercier, ‘was one of Dreyfus’s tutors at the École Supérieure. He runs the
‘I know that.’ Mercier regarded me through his eye slits; it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Du Paty continued: ‘I propose that Major Picquart waits for Dreyfus in the main entrance at nine o’clock and personally conducts him to General Boisdeffre’s office. Dreyfus knows him and trusts him. That should allay any suspicions.’
There was a silence while the minister considered this.
Mercier said, ‘And what do you think of this plan, Major Picquart?’
‘I am not sure Captain Dreyfus regards me as a particularly reassuring figure,’ I replied carefully, ‘but if Colonel du Paty believes my presence will be useful, then of course I shall play my part.’
Mercier trained his eye slits back on du Paty. ‘So we have him in General Boisdeffre’s office. And then what do we do with him?’
‘General Boisdeffre will not be there. .’
‘I should hope not!’ cut in Boisdeffre.
‘. . instead, I’ll greet Dreyfus, explain that the Chief of the General Staff has been delayed, and ask him to take a seat. My right hand will be bandaged — I’ll say it’s injured — and I’ll ask Dreyfus to take down a letter for me, which I’ll dictate. By catching him unawares, I’ll make it hard for him to disguise his writing. Once I have sufficient evidence, I’ll give the signal and we’ll confront him.’
‘Who is “we”?’ asked Mercier.
‘With me in the room will be Superintendent Cochefort of the Sûreté — who is with us here — along with one of his men, and Monsieur Gribelin, archivist of the Statistical Section, who will make a verbatim record. Major Henry of the Statistical Section will be concealed behind a screen.’
‘So it will be five against one?’
‘Exactly, Minister. I believe with the benefit of numbers and surprise there is an excellent chance he will be break down and confess on the spot. In which case, I wish to make a further suggestion.’
‘Go on.’
‘That we offer him the honourable way out — I show him a service revolver with a single bullet, and he can finish it there and then.’
There was a silence while Mercier considered this, then he inclined his head slightly. ‘Yes.’
Boisdeffre said, ‘Good heavens! I would be grateful if he could do it away from my carpet — it’s an Aubusson.’
Grateful laughter relieved the tension. Only Mercier didn’t smile. ‘And if he doesn’t take the traditional course, what then?’
