Courcelle

Three weeks after Hurricane Katrina savaged the southeast Louisiana coast, sportsmen like Joe Courcelle in Jesuit Bend, about 40 miles downriver from New Orleans, were trying to view the glass as half-full.

On-line Exclusive: Rita's Ruin 1999

"There won't be a stick of duck food left in south Louisiana," the 67-year-old Courcelle said after spending a long night strengthening a levee separating his home from the eastern reaches of Barataria Bay.

On-line Exclusive: Rita's Ruin 1999

No wonder Courcelle, whose duties could hardly have encompassed this sort of guard before, looked almost as unhappy as the mourners.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

Stephen stalked through the smoky, bloody, steel-littered bailey into the hall, and despatched Courcelle and Ten Heyt and their men with express orders to isolate the ring leaders and bring them before him.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

'I doubt,' said Courcelle dryly, 'if I shall ever come to that.'

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

'Your Grace, clemency now would be taken for weakness,' said Courcelle emphatically.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

Courcelle, parrying, felt himself falling, and threw up his arm, and Hugh's following stroke took the sword almost out of his hand, shivered edge to edge, leaving him sprawled on one hip, and clutching only a bladeless hilt.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

'It is a formality here, I grant you,' said Courcelle, 'but I have my orders, and cannot treat one dwelling more favourably than another.'

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

Courcelle came in, his helmet off and his chestnut hair blazing.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

'Send and ask,' said Brother Cadfael, 'of Adam Courcelle.'

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979