As the dinner plates were placed and everyone focused on their surf and turf of salmon and filet, Lara considered her next question carefully. “Was it ever called the Devil’s Circus, Mr. Favre?”

Mr. Favre met her eyes. “It was… and an accurate description of it, too, from what I’ve heard. Very bad things happened with that circus.”

“Like what?” Ben was cutting his filet.

“Murders,” said Favre between chews. “Men going missing.”

“Well, that’s right up your alley,” said Audrey to Ben. “And you believe this legend, Louie?”

“I do,” said Louie gravely. “I once knew people who had gone to it. They said it was quite a spectacle. Gruesome acts—much like the art of that time. But those who saw it said it was the most beautiful circus that had ever existed. Ah, what I wouldn’t give to have seen it.”

From what she’d read in Cecile’s journal, Lara thought that Louie would have been a prime candidate to receive a ticket, especially if he would give anything to get one.

“You think Cecile was part of this strange circus?” Audrey laughed. “That’s madness, Louie. You knew her. She wore khakis, for God’s sake.”

“Perhaps not.” Gaston turned to Audrey, raising his finger. “I’m sorry, Audrey, I didn’t have a chance to tell you. When I removed the frame and turned the painting over, the title was written on the back. It did not, in fact, mention a Cecile. Instead what was written was: SYLVIE ON THE STEED. Perhaps, Audrey, your grandmother was also called Sylvie?”

“No,” said Audrey. “Never Sylvie. Always Cecile.”

“Then perhaps this painting is not of Cecile Cabot.”

Audrey and Lara looked at each other. Both of them were thinking the same thing. The painting resembled Cecile. It had to be Cecile, didn’t it?

But then Lara recalled there had been a Sylvie in Cecile’s journal. She was the trick rider and the daughter of Madame Plutard. Had they been mistaken?

Gaston shrugged. “Barrow would love to see the painting for himself. He is suggesting we visit.” He leaned in close so that even Louie Favre could not hear. “This painting could be quite valuable. It could be worth eight or ten million dollars?”

“Really?” Lara met her mother’s eyes. Like a lot of people who had Virginia farms, business was spotty and often funded out of old money that was drying up. Ten million dollars could change everything. She quickly considered what they could do with that sum. Quit running the station on a shoestring budget. Buy some new horses for her mother.

“He wants us to come to Paris?”

Audrey hesitated. “But she can’t—”

“Paris?” This was the second time today that she was being summoned to Paris. This was no coincidence.

“Change of scenery… Paris… a little art mystery for us to solve. It might be fun, non?” Gaston raised his brow.