His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“I had an accident there last night,” I replied. “I should like to see what became of a certain man.”

He rolled his eyes as though he was thinking—trying to measure me in his mind.

“What’s your game, Henri?” he asked. His voice was low but I felt a threat lurking in it.

I began to explain.

“You see, as I was coming home last night, I happened upon two men who were quarreling in the woods,” said I, watching his face closely.

“Yes,” he answered.

“The one got the better of the other,” I went on, “and the man who lost was tied by the victor to a tree.”

He did not change his expression, but looked steadily into my eyes.

“Dead?” he demanded.