inquest, investigation, examination; survey, inquiry
“Plusieurs mois se passèrent, puis cet homme, ayant été appelé à la questure, laissa glisser cette lettre à terre. Un gendarme la saisit et la présenta au juge qui tomba en arrêt sur les mots : intentions meurtrières, pris une autre route, réfugiés, capturés, Lombardo. Le paysan fut emprisonné, interrogé, mis au secret. Il n’avoua rien. On le garda et une enquête sévère fut ouverte.” — Several months passed. Then this man, having been appointed to a collectorship, threw away the letter. A policeman picked it up and presented it to a judge, who immediately fell upon these words: "Murderous intentions, taken another route, found refuge, captured, Lombardo. The peasant was imprisoned, questioned, almost tortured. He knew nothing. They kept him imprisoned, and a severe examination was begun.
Inherited from Vulgar Latin *inquaesita < Latin inquīrere. < quaerere. Compare also the Medieval Latin inquesta, from Latin in- + quaesita.