Suddenly a laugh rang out, a nervous laugh there was no repressing, but nevertheless struck a note of gayety in the gloomy atmosphere of the room. It was Aurelie, provoked by the immense expression of discomfiture on the face of the Commissary to this excess of truly untimely hilarity. The fact that the comic sentence had been pronounced loudly by the very man who was the object of its ridicule, brought the tears to her eyes: “Marescal is a blockhead!”
Marescal gazed at her with a sudden inquietude. How did it come about that the girl had this excess of gayety in the terrible situation in which she found herself, actually panting in the grip of her enemy.
“Was the situation no longer the same?” he asked himself. “In what way had it changed?”
And doubtless he perceived a connection between this unexpected laugh and the strangely calm attitude [[216]]of the girl since the beginning of the struggle. What then was she hoping? Was it possible that in the midst of events which should have brought her to her knees, she still stood on firm ground, the solidity of which appeared to her unshakeable.
Things took on a truly disagreeable aspect; he began to suspect a cleverly laid trap. There was danger in the house. From what side did it threaten? How could he admit that an attack could take place when he had taken every possible precaution?
“If Bregeac moves, all the worse for him—a bullet through his head,” he said to Sauvinoux.
He went to the door and opened it. He could hear the murmur of the voices of Tony and Labonce.
He leaned over the bannisters and called out: “Is everything right down there, Tony? Has any one come in?”
“No one, Chief. Did you have a row upstairs?” said Tony.
“No—no—Besides, Sauvinoux is with me,” said Marescal.