Chapter Three

While everyone was in a state of confusion and accusations began to mount, a very elegant man entered the compartment, wearing a luxurious suit adorned with gold brooches, possessing a dignity that did not conceal his noble origins. His face was calm, but his sharp eyes shone with intelligence and confidence.

He walked firmly towards Jean-Claude and Basil and said in a calm but firm voice:

"My name is Carman du Vallée. I am one of the nobles of this country, and I know well what justice and truth mean."

He looked at the gathered crowd and said:

"I often hear about this 'Monsieur, le Crime,' and I realize that this incident is not just an ordinary crime. I assure you that Lieutenant Duval is innocent of these charges."

He addressed Jean-Claude:

"Mr. Investigator, I request that we begin a thorough investigation of all the passengers and train staff. The truth must come out, however dark it may be."

The investigation began quickly, with Jean-Claude and Carman questioning the passengers one by one and asking the train staff to submit their reports.

During the investigation, Jean-Claude noticed something odd: one of the employees, a young man named Pierre, wasn't in the cabin at the time of the crime. When he was summoned, he seemed nervous and began to defend himself passionately:

"I didn't do anything! I was in the kitchen the whole time; anyone can testify!"

But there was no conclusive evidence to prove his innocence. Instead, all the evidence pointed to Lieutenant Duval—prints on the weapon, unconfirmed testimony, and even his presence near the body.

Kerman looked at Jean-Claude and said, "It's complicated, but we can't judge Duval based on this evidence alone. There's something hidden, and we have to find out."

Jean-Claude nodded, beginning to sense that this case was bigger than just a simple murder, and perhaps the beginning of a confrontation with "Monsieur, le Crime" himself.