Very well! it was scarcely prudent to leave in the court-yard a gun that certainly had not been charged for firing at swallows." The cure and Maurice exchanged a glance of consternation.

Maurice now recollected, for the first time, that when he sprang from the carriage to lift out Marie-Anne, he propped his loaded gun against the wall.

It had escaped the notice of the servants.
"Secondly," pursued Bavois, "there is someone concealed in the attic.

I have excellent ears.

Thirdly, I arranged it so that no one should enter the sick lady's room." Maurice needed no further proof.