"Yes."
"What kind of accident?"
She pointed with her finger:
"Look here—at the base of the fore-finger."
"What is there?"
"The gallows."
There was an outburst of laughter. D'Estreicher was enchanted. Count Octave clapped his hands.
"Bravo, mademoiselle, the gallows for this old libertine; it must be that you have the gift of second sight. So I shall not hesitate...."
He consulted his wife with a look of inquiry and continued:
"So I shall not hesitate to tell you...."