The story is set in France, 1917, during the first World War. It is loosely based on the Battle of Verdun. It begins at the height of a battle in which the French troops are in headlong retreat after abandoning an important fortified position, the loss is due to the incompetence of the commanding officer.
Those who had pushed vigorously for his promotion against the advice of a great many who had questioned his abilities knew that unless they could somehow justify the loss their political and military careers were finished.
The General who had the most to lose devised a simple scheme, he would order an inquiry be held with a report issued at the end of the investigation showing that the position was lost to the enemy due to spies and traitors within the ranks of the French themselves.
To give the appearance that the inquiry was above board and completely independent he decided to give the responsibility of conducting the inquiry to one of the most hated men in France. Major Henri Epave had been a journalist before the war and had wielded a slashing poisoned pen attacking the church, politicians and especially the military.