CRIME DETAILS

BACKGROUND
Disturbed by the revolutionist activity in Paris (particularly the burning down of the royal waxworks in the palace museum), the royal family had accepted Comte Cyrano de Bergerac’s offer of hospitality at Château Meutre.  The royal party included:

l The king’s principal minister, Cardinal Mazarin
l The king’s “Mistress en Titre” (principal mistress), the actress Madame le Drury
l Marie Antoinette’s chief lady in waiting, Madame de Spicable
l Dr Guillotin, fashionable Parisian physician.

Dr Guillotin, when not attending the royal family, spent his time building a prototype of his new execution device, “La Guillotine”, to show Cardinal Mazarin.  The guillotine was assembled in the courtyard of the château.

Cyrano de Bergerac’s mistress, the dazzlingly beautiful Anna de Breuil, was acting as hostess.

DEPARTURE OF MADAME LE DRURY
The royal party had been staying at Chateau Meutre for two months.  During that time it became apparent that the notorious womaniser, Louis XV, was very attracted to Anna de Breuil.  Much to Madame le Drury’s annoyance.  Things came to a head the night before last when Madame le Drury and Anna de Breuil had a blazing row.  Anna de Breuil emerged the winner and that night Madame le Drury fled from the Château.  No one saw her leave, but a letter was discovered in her bedroom saying that the king’s behaviour was intolerable and that she was going back to Paris.

ARRIVAL OF LA VOISIN
That particular area of France is rumoured to be the haunt of “La Voisin” ,the country’s most notorious witch.  The ancient La Voisin is famed for her powers of prophecy and divination.  The superstitious King Louis had expressed a wish of hoping to meet her.  La Voisin turned up at the Château Meutre and, having commanded a room for the night, agreed to provide crystal ball readings for the assembled guests.  Once these divinations were over the entire household, unusually sleepy, retired to bed.

ATTACK ON CHÂTEAU
In the early hours of the morning a disturbance was heard.  The Château came under attack, being pelted by stones and bricks.  The attackers were thought to be disillusioned peasants.  Soldiers from the Bare Rock Bastille, who were being employed to protect the château, fought them off.  But in the dark there was much confusion.

DISCOVERY OF BODY
When the attackers had fled, everyone assembled in the courtyard.  And there two horrifying discoveries were made. First it was discovered that the queen, Marie Antoinette, was missing.  Then, by the side of the guillotine, was discovered the headless body of her lady in waiting, Madame de Spicable.  The guillotine blade was covered in blood and the head of the corpse was missing.

MADAME DE POMPADOUR’S ENQUIRY
Louis XV, a man who knows his own intellectual limitations, has taken action.  Firstly he has ordered his soldiers to scour the château and surrounding area for clues to Marie Antoinette’s whereabouts.  Secondly, Louis has sent to Paris for his former mistress, Madame de Pompadour.  Knowing her to be much more cleverer than himself, he has tasked Madame de Pompadour, renowned for her intelligence, wit and tact, to investigate Madame de Spicable’s death.  He has given her carte blanche in how she undertakes her task.  Madame de Pompadour has brought with her other mistresses of intelligence as well as some musketeers (for who knows how dangerous the killer might be).  Together they will be questioning the household to try and make sense of what has happened.