Summary

The chapter starts with a grieving Clara, who felt shocked and was having a difficult time believing Jane was dead. Peter rummaged for tea while Clara and Jane’s dog sat, both struck by grief. Gamache meanwhile was sitting on a bench outside, observing the townspeople and taking in every minute detail of people’s interactions and the geography of the town. Ben approached and sat down, pointing out his, Clara and Jane’s house along with some pine trees. He then explained why there are always three pines planted in a row, that it was a code from the War of Independence, signifying where it was safe for loyalists to go. As a student of Quebec history, Gamache is puzzled why he didn’t know this and Ben posits that maybe because the English want to keep it a secret from the French...