The Nature of the Beast

The next morning, Brian approaches Gamache and explains that he heard the conversation with Mary Fraser. Brian now understands that Couture’s role as the designer of the gun may have led to Antoinette’s death, but he doesn’t know anything about the plans for the weapon. Gamache is departing for his delayed trip to Highwater and offers to drop Brian off at the local theatre on the way.

Meanwhile, Clara and Myrna speak with Professor Rosenblatt to see if he knows anything that could help them to understand what happened to their friend, Antoinette. Rosenblatt is unwilling to disclose any confidential information, but because he knows that Clara is an artist, he shows her a photograph of the etching on the gun (the image of the Whore of Babylon).

Gamache and Brian arrive at the theatre, where Antoinette had already begun to assemble the set and staging for the play. Gamache realizes that the stagecraft includes items from Antoinette’s home and surmises that the plans could be somewhere amongst the items that have been taken to the theatre. He immediately calls Lacoste to come and search these items. Gamache also realizes that the photo of Bull and Couture together was taken in Brussels (the final location where Bull lived before being assassinated).