“Well, what is it?” he asked coolly.
“Who are you?”
“I think that’s a question I should put to you.”
“I am the officer in charge of the search party. We are looking for the escaped prisoners, and my sergeant has just been fooled in this house. Now, monsieur, who are you? And do you know of this?”
“I am Captain Dubois, comrade of Captain Bassot, in charge of the recently arrived troops. These are some of my men, I see.”
The men saluted.
“Do you know anything of this trick?”
“Monsieur!” exclaimed Dubois angrily. “Of what do you accuse me?”
“I make no accusation, captain. But I have to search the house.”
“Well, send your men to search it,” and Dubois got up and stood by the door, thus barring the way out of the house. If the officer sent the Bourbon men they would find nothing, he knew; if he went himself, he would find more than he would be allowed to take away.