“Monsieur?” He was wholly blank again.

“Weren’t you there about eleven? Didn’t you go about two hours after Mr. Ward and his friends left here?”

He scratched his head. “I believe I had an errand in that direction. Eh? Yes, I remember. Truly, I think it so happened.”

“And you found Jean Ferret there?”

“Where, monsieur?”

“At Pere Baudry’s.”

“No, monsieur.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

“No, monsieur.” He was firm, somewhat reproachful.

“You didn’t see Jean Ferret this morning?”