“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.