The Beautiful Mystery

The chapter opens at the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les Loups—or “Saint Gilbert among the Wolves”—in remote Québec, Canada. The abbot surveys the monks under his care and sees the conflict among them: “facing each other across the stone floor of the chapel, like ancient battle lines” (5). In a monastery with a vow of silence, someone clearing their throat reminds the Abbot that he must begin the day with the Angelus bells, rung at 6 a.m.

Jean-Guy Beauvoir, second in command to Armand Gamache, head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, the province’s police force, is having breakfast with his partner, Annie Gamache, his boss’s daughter. Annie recalls that her father gave her mother’s parents a bathmat when he first met them, which became a family joke. Beauvoir, also joking, presents Annie with a toilet plunger for their anniversary—they have been a couple for three months. Annie realizes Beauvoir must already know this family story from his long stakeouts with her father.

Beauvoir values Annie’s empathy, in contrast to his less open communication with his former wife. He has known Annie since her adolescence, and is devoted to her father, who does not yet know of their relationship. They are not yet ready to tell Annie’s parents they are together. Annie has no doubts, but Beauvoir is privately uncertain whether Annie’s parents will approve. Annie assures him they think of him “as another son” (10), and laughs at the idea of surprising her father, the ace investigator, with information he has missed.

Beauvoir’s phone rings. Gamache tells him they have a new case, which usually brigs on strong emotion, as he values working with his boss, but this day is different: “Beauvoir loved his job. But now, for the first time, he looked into the kitchen, and saw Annie standing in the doorway. Watching him. And he realized, with surprise, that he now loved something more” (11). He says goodbye to Annie, and both of them regret the sudden parting. Privately, Annie feels a new kinship with her mother, knowing that such departures are something they now share. 

The chapter opens with Beauvoir on the open water, in a small fishing boat. Beauvoir reflects on the fisherman steering, the routine joys of work, and decides that investigating is an acceptable alternative to being with his beloved Annie. A local Sûreté officer, Captain Charbonneau is with them. Charbonneau is curious about Gamache, whose reputation clearly precedes him. Beauvoir is in awe of his boss: “When others stopped, Gamache stepped ahead. Looking into cracks and crevices and caves. Where dark things lived” (17). He worries that he will not be accepted into the family.

As the two men fly on a plane to the remote north, Beauvoir realizes Gamache is listening to music. The plane takes them deep into the remote forests of the province, only to wind up on another boat to their final destination. The experience is emotional: “Beauvoir felt a frisson of excitement. Millions had searched for this place. Looking all over the world for the reclusive men who lived here […] the near mythical monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups” (20). The order has avoided all contact with the outside world, but a murder has now disrupted that peace.

The boatman is skeptical that they monks will allow the homicide team in. Beauvoir knocks on the heavy door and Gamache announces himself and his purpose. Beauvoir, unnerved by the forest surrounding them, reminds himself that his boss has a head for psychology, and that his fears of Armand rejecting his relationship with Annie are as baseless as his other fears. Charbonneau, the local officer, is also impatient. Gamache, unlike the others, waits calmly as the door is opened. The monk they meet is dressed singularly: “facing them was a figure in a long black robe. But it wasn’t totally black. There were white epaulettes at the shoulders, and a small apron of white partway down the chest” (23).

Gamache is surprised to find the hallway filled with light from large windows above, that makes rainbows on the floor; he calls it “walking into joy” (24). As they enter the abbey church, Gamache sees monks in silent rows, praying. Gamache’s guide is a much younger man than Gamache had expected, and Gamache reminds himself that prejudices have no place in his work. The young monk is obviously distraught but knocks on another heavy door, which opens to admit them.