“And how many servants?”

“Seven—­four men and three women.”

“You have neither received nor concealed anyone this evening?”

“No one.”

“It will be necessary to prove this,” said the captain.  And turning toward the door: 

“Corporal Bavois!” he called.

This man was one of those old soldiers who had followed the Emperor over all Europe.  Two small, ferocious gray eyes lighted his tanned, weather-beaten face, and an immense hooked nose surmounted a heavy, bristling mustache.

“Bavois,” commanded the officer, “you will take half a dozen men and search this house from top to bottom.  You are an old fox that knows a thing or two.  If there is any hiding-place here, you will be sure to discover it; if anyone is concealed here, you will bring the person to me.  Go, and make haste!”

The corporal departed on his mission; the captain resumed his questions.

“And now,” said he, turning to Maurice, “what have you been doing this evening?”

The young man hesitated for an instant; then, with well-feigned indifference, replied: 

“I have not put my head outside the door this evening.”

“Hum! that must be proved.  Let me see your hands.”

The soldier’s tone was so offensive that Maurice felt the angry blood mount to his forehead.  Fortunately, a warning glance from the abbe made him restrain his wrath.

He offered his hands to the inspection of the captain, who examined them carefully, outside and in, and finally smelled them.

“Ah! these hands are too white and smell too sweet to have been dabbling in powder.”

He was evidently surprised that this young man should have had so little courage as to remain in the shelter of the fireside while his father was leading the peasants on to battle.

“Another thing,” said he, “you must have weapons here.”

“Yes, hunting rifles.”

“Where are they?”

“In a small room on the ground-floor.”

“Take me there.”

They conducted him to the room, and on finding that none of the double-barrelled guns had been used for some days, he seemed considerably annoyed.

He appeared furious when the corporal came and told him that he had searched everywhere, but had found nothing of a suspicious character.

“Send for the servants,” was his next order.

But all the servants faithfully repeated the lesson which the abbe had given them.

The captain saw that he was not likely to discover the mystery, although he was well satisfied that one existed.

Swearing that they should pay dearly for it, if they were deceiving him, he again called Bavois.

“I must continue my search,” said he.  “You, with two men, will remain here, and render a strict account of all that you see and hear.  If Monsieur d’Escorval returns, bring him to me at once; do not allow him to escape.  Keep your eyes open, and good luck to you!”