"Some matches have fallen down."
And when he had put the butter-jar back in its place, he added:
"I came to fetch my lantern, because a little while ago, as I came along, I perceived a man stretched across the line, and I believe he's dead."
Jacques, at first struck at the idea of surprising Misard searching for the hoard of Aunt Phasie, which abruptly transformed his doubt respecting the accusations of the latter into certainty, was then so violently upset by this news of the discovery of a corpse, that he forgot the other drama—the one that was being performed there, in this little out-of-the-way dwelling. The scene in the coupé, the brief vision of one man slaughtering another, returned to him in a vivid flash.
"A man on the line!" he exclaimed, turning pale. "Where?"
Misard was about to relate that he was returning with a couple of eels which he had taken from his ground lines, and that he had first of all run home, as fast as he could, to hide them. But he reflected that there was no necessity to confide in this young man, and with a vague gesture he replied:
"Over there, about half a mile away. It requires a light to find out more."
At this moment Jacques heard a thud overhead. He was so nervous that he started.
"It's nothing," said Misard. "It's only Flore moving."
And, in fact, the young man recognised the pit-pat of two naked feet on the floor. She had come to listen at the half-open door.