"Well, then?" De Loubersac was staring at Vagualame with puzzled eyes.
"Well, then—as to that—no!... I had better hold my tongue."
"Speak out!" commanded de Loubersac.
"No," growled Juve-Vagualame.
"I order you to do so."
"Well, then," conceded Juve-Vagualame, "since you must know what I think, I consider Nichoune was in no sense the mistress of Captain Brocq."
"They found letters from Captain Brocq on her." De Loubersac's laugh had a sneer in it.
"Bah!" said the old accordion player, punctuating his remark with some piercing sounds from his ancient instrument of discordant music. "It was a got-up business!"
"What is that you say?" objected de Loubersac. After a moment's reflection he added:
"But of course, you must know more about it than anyone, Vagualame, because you saw her just before the end. Didn't you have a talk with Nichoune on the Friday, the eve of her death?"