At that instant he caught sight of the flushed face of Detricand, who broke into a laugh of tipsy mirth when Olivier Delagarde told how the French officer had stricken him down as he was about finishing off Rullecour.
All at once the whole thing rushed upon Ranulph.

What a fool he had been! He had met this officer of Rullecour's these ten years past, and never once had the Frenchman, by so much as a hint, suggested that he knew the truth about his father.

Here and now the contemptuous mirth upon the Frenchman's face told the whole story.

The danger and horror of the situation descended on him.

Instantly he started towards Detricand.
At that moment his father caught sight of Detricand also, saw the laugh, the sneer, and recognised him.