The light from the hall lamp fell on their father as he turned to face the stairs.
Across one of his cheeks stretched a deep red gash.
CHAPTER TWO
House-to-House Search
AS THE light fell across the wound on her father’s face Marie cried out sharply.
From the bedroom Mme. Gagnon called, “Marie, what’s wrong?”
André ran back to her side. “Papa’s hurt,” he said, and then added hastily, “but not badly.”
“But there were no bombs,” Mme. Gagnon exclaimed.
Pierre himself had lunged up the stairs and now burst into the bedroom sputtering, “Don’t excite yourself, Maman. All is well. No harm is done. That cochon!”
“Ah,” his wife cried. “So, it was Raoul Cotein!”
“Who else but that son of Satan?” Gagnon’s eyes snapped fiercely. He was red and breathing furiously, and flung himself into a chair beside the bed.