"Hannibal Lecter!" The cannibal doctor has read of them? No wonder he seemed to recognize Combeferre's name, and expect his presence. And to know--what was it he'd said? Their number, their politics...well, at least he was from far in the future, although...

"What unholy motive could he possibly have for reading it? Other than to gloat about knowing things about us without being told, of course. Does he plan to tell the spy anything? About...well. The book has information on future events that a police spy might wish to know."

Combeferre shakes his head. "I take it the spy himself doesn't know of the book?"