The vast mansion secluded by poplars on Paris's moneyed western outskirts in Neuilly looked from the outside like a genteel haven of the impossibly rich French upper classes.

On the terrace of the €30m villa – dubbed the White House – the ageing lady of the house, "Madame", was often served an afternoon Perrier water from a silver tray after a swim in the indoor pool; the drawing room was decorated with Matisse paintings; the dogs ate only fresh fish; and an army of chambermaids, cooks, beauticians, hairdressers and butlers oiled the

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