"That?... No."...
"Then what conclusion have you arrived at? Have you further information about Brocq's death?"
"Hum!"...
"About Nichoune's death, perhaps?"
"Colonel! Have you noticed that for some time past I have not handed you any report from the agent Vagualame?"
"The deuce.... What do you imagine that means?"
"I do not imagine anything, Colonel—I state facts!... Nichoune is dead, murdered: there is not a shadow of a doubt about that.... Nichoune was the mistress of Corporal Vinson.... This Vinson was on the point of playing the traitor, if he had not already done so; he was also a friend of Captain Brocq, and Brocq died just when the document disappeared—the document confided to him by our service ... so much for facts."
The colonel was staring fixedly at de Loubersac.
"I do not see what you are driving at!" said he.
"I am coming to it, Colonel.... Nichoune was found dead on Saturday, November 19th, but on the evening of November 18th Nichoune received a visit from our agent, Vagualame, whom I had sent to Châlons by your own orders to occupy himself with the V. affair."