The Beautiful Mystery

In the basement, Beauvoir hides his discomfiture with anger, suspicious of Francoeur’s attempts to draw him out, and not understanding why he would do so.

Frère Raymond explains the monastery map to them. When the monk expresses skepticism that the abbot would have been in the basement during the murder, Beauvoir pushes him to name the abbot as his chief suspect. Frère Raymond becomes frightened of Beauvoir’s obvious anger. Beauvoir calls Frère Raymond a coward for not accusing the abbot, but to do so would be akin to sacrilege. Plus, Frère Raymond finally explains in desperation, he believed the abbot would give in. Frère Raymond denies breaking the abbot’s confidence about the foundations and stops answering questions, reciting the Hail Mary. Beauvoir feels guilty for pushing the monk, who reminds him of his grandmother: “Patient and kindly. And forgiving” (232).

To Beauvoir’s surprise, Francoeur tells him he admires his interrogation technique. Gamache, finally alone with the reports, realizes that the prior was alive for some time after the attack, meaning there is a possibility of last words.