Chapter 38:

William was sitting on Madam Hébert's couch opposite her and her maid Marie Gosselin. Elizabeth had absolutely insisted on staying during the interrogation and William had agreed. It was rather important that she was here after what Julia had revealed to him. Needless to say, he wasn't exactly greeted when he knocked on the door.

"Good. Madam Gosselin. Where were you between 9:00 and 9:30 last night?"

"Well, I... I was polishing Madam Hébert's shoes in her room..." the young woman looked down, as if embarrassed, and William felt bad for her. Obviously, she was not doing this job for pure pleasure and Elizabeth did not seem to make her tasks easy.

"I confirm that." said Madam Hébert haughtily as her little dog, Bobby, jumped into her lap. "I asked her."

William nodded.

"Has anyone seen you and could confirm that?"

"But finally!"

"Please, Madam Hébert, I'm talking to Miss Gosselin. Answer the question, please." asked the young man impatiently.

"I…I don't know…I don't think so, actually." she said sadly.

William cleared his throat. "Did you know the victim?"

"No… I had met him a few times since we were here, but he never spoke to me or even looked at me."

"Well… A witness told me that he had seen you put a white powder in a glass when you were at the table with Madam Hébert, a few days ago."

He saw Marie's eyes widen as she opened her mouth in shock.

"A white powder? What was that, Marie?!" asked Elizabeth, almost distraught, which made William say that the old lady, despite her age, did not take this kind of medicine.

"I… No, it was finally I…"

"Are you taking any medicine? Anxiolytic or something else?"

"Of course not!" Elizabeth raged again.

"Please." William got angry a second time. "Answer, Marie."

"Nope. It's…" she stuttered. "It's nothing at all."

"Listen. I don't know if this white powder has any connection with the death of Lazare Lamoureux. But you should answer, you are clearly not in a good position."

"It was nothing, I tell you." Marie declared firmly; her complexion livid.

"Would you rather I search your compartment? I'm sure I'll find something there. This kind of thing… it leaves traces." William attempted intimidation.

"No... It was cocaine... But I swear I threw the water! I changed my mind and Madam Hébert did not drink a single drop of it, I promise you." suddenly panicked the young woman.

William turned his head towards Madam Hébert who seemed completely in shock.

"You mean you tried to poison your employer? Cocaine can kill an old person; it is very serious what you have done Miss. Especially since Canada is on the verge of banning this drug with the rise of temperance leagues and prohibition. You can no longer possess it."

"But I didn't poison Madam Hébert!" Marie snapped. "I tell you she hasn't had a drop of it!"

"We'll talk about that later. For the moment you will stay in your compartment, and you will no longer approach Madam Hébert." William ordered as he got up from the sofa.

"Nope! I can't, it's…"

"Oh, yes you can! I want nothing more to do with you, young lady!" Elizabeth suddenly got upset and got up, knocking her dog backwards. "You tried to poison me; don't you think I'm going to keep you as a maid?!"

Marie lifted her head and frowned.

"I wanted to poison you, it's true. You always treated me like shit after everything I've done for you! I have encountered family difficulties and you know it very well. I told you about it and you didn't lift a finger! You sent me to iron your jackets for the hundredth time today. You have no respect for workers!" the young woman almost yelled, pointing an almost menacing finger at her mistress.

"But I won't allow you…"

"But I don't need your permission to tell you that you are bogus. Bogus, bogus, bogus."

William finally stepped between them and grabbed Miss Gosselin's wrist.

"Come with me, we'll take you back to your compartment." William said softly.

When they were both in the hallway and Madam Hébert's door was closed, he confronted the young woman.

"It is very serious what you have done…Attempted murder…" William began.

"But there is no attempted murder. I threw the water in a plant when she wasn't looking. She didn't drink it." sniffed the young woman whose eyes were shining with tears of anger.

"I know, but it's still very serious… And that doesn't put you forward for the murder of Mr. Lamoureux."

"What?! You don't think I killed that man? I didn't even know him, why would I have done that?!" Marie asked indignantly.

"I do not know. A stroke of madness. Just like with your mistress…"

Marie lowered her gaze. "Think what you want. I did not kill this man and you will find the real culprit. I remain at your disposal, detective." concluded the young woman before slipping away into her own compartment and closing the door behind her.

Note: No Jilliam for this episode! But progress on the investigation. Thank you so much for the last two reviews :) And I planned everything yes haha !