Clouds of Witness Part VI

 Peter and Parker agree that they will try not to use Mrs Grimethorpe's evidence, but that it may be necessary.  Peter goes on examining evidence, looking at some papers he took from the study at the Lodge but when he comes across a piece of blotting paper, he suddenly notices something strange about it.  

It consists of scraps of writing, but he realises, being a fluent French speaker, that one of the phrases is almost certainly in French.  He and Parker know that none of the people likely to write a letter in that room would use French.. except Cathcart. He had been brought up partly in France and kept a flat there where he spent much of his time.  

Peter remembers the books in Cathcart's place, among them French novels such as Manon Lecaut. He tells Parker that he thinks the key to the mystery may be found in Paris.  He sets off for France as soon as he can and relays information back to Charles who makes more enquiries in London.  After a few days, Peter returns to London and tries to see the American Ambassador, as he now has to go to the US.  The Ambassador is dining with the King so he manages to secure entry and gets assistance from the Ambassador to get into the US quickly.  

He flies there, and meets a young Viennese woman called Simone Vonderaa.  She is living in New York with a rich American.... having left Paris recently.  He has discovered that she was a demi mondaine who was Catchcart's mistress.. and that he was passionately in love with her.  Simone says that she wrote to Denis to tell him that she had had an offer of a position as the mistress of the rich American.. and that she is going to New York.. 

He has lost his money because the ravages of war played havoc with his French properties and investments.. and Simone was getting fed up with his being short of cash.  She was fond of him, but had reminded him that she had her old age to consider, that she needed rich lovers to build up a retirement fund.  

Peter is struck by her good looks, and can see how someone like Cathcart might fall passionately in love with her but be unable to marry her because she would not fit in with his diplomatic career.    She tells him that Denis had sent her a letter, and that she had just skimmed it because she saw no point in mulling over what could not be helped.  Denis was a nice man but he could not afford her services - and he was engaged to someone else.  Peter begs her to try and find the letter which will hopefully give a clue as to what Denis was planning....