"As an institution, my police is every bit that bad. If the police are widely disliked by their own people, there must be something very wrong. In France--I don't argue beyond her borders, mind, my knowledge extends only so far--in France, nearly everything is wrong, and the police are men who have chosen to make themselves the eyes and feet and fingertips of a body of laws so profoundly corrupt that--"

He breaks off and laughs. "--But let me guess. You work with the police yourself, monsieur? Come from a family of long proud service, that I have just insulted beyond any chance of apology while sharing a glass of excellent wine wit you? It would be my luck."

Bossuet's aware that showing up in a dusty coat, with a bandaged head and an entirely illegal tricolor cockade, may give him a biased air in this discussion.