Marie Denarnaud remains an enigma. She arrived in Rennes-le-Chateau to assist her mother as Sauniere’s housekeeper in 1892. Her mother returned to Esperanza shortly thereafter. Canon law in France at that time specified that any female employee of a presbytery had to be at least 45 years of age; Marie was 24. She stayed at Sauniere’s side until his death in 1917. Her lifelong proximity to the priest suggests that if anyone knew the secrets of Rennes-le-Chateau, it was her. She died in 1953 without divulging any of them.

The Villa Bethania. Marie Denardaud is in the foreground.