"Look here," Charles said, "why all this mystery? You've already said you expect to find the Monk in these grounds."
The artist passed his hand across his brow. "Sometimes I do not know quite what I say. I do not wish to tell you that, for you understand it is no use if someone else finds him. I must be that one. M'sieur, think! For years I have waited. At first I did not care: I was content. But now I am not any longer content, and I think that it is better to have courage than to go on like this. For me, I have genius, and I will not be what you call underdog all my life. Better dead, m'sieur! Yes, I have thought that. Better dead! But I do not mean to die. Not like that other. For see, m'sieur! I am armed." He showed Charles a wickedlooking knife, and grinned fiendishly. "That would slip between the ribs, hein! Softly, oh but softly! When I hear footsteps in the dark, I take hold of him, my little knife, and courage comes to me."
"Indeed? said Charles, beginning to think that the man was really mad. "And do I understand that that is meant for the Monk?"
Duval nodded. "Yes, but I do not wish to kill him. No, that is not good. I wish only to see his face, for once I have seen it, m'sieur, he is in my power, and I hold him like that." He closed his fingers tightly.
"Well, when he's in your power," Charles said, "perhaps you'll be so good as to tell him to cease haunting this house."
"Yes, perhaps I do that for you, m'sieur, if you let me search as I please. For I have made up my mind that even if I must go down amongst the dead to do it I will find him."
"Let's hope no such journey will be necessary," Charles suggested, and was surprised to see that leering secret smile twist the artist's mouth again. "In the meantime, I don't think you need worry about Constable Flinders."
"And I may search? You will not forbid me?"
"Well, we'll see about that," Charles said, bent only on getting rid of him. "And now I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to go, because I can't leave my guests any longer."
The artist clutched his wrist. "You will not tell the gendarme to arrest poor Duval?"