Ordener answered coldly: “Who is the culprit? I must know!”
“In Heaven’s name, sir, do not say so! Be silent, for fear—”
“Fear will not silence me, but shall make you speak.”
“Excuse me; forgive me, young master!” said the agonized Spiagudry. “I cannot.”
“You can, for I insist. Tell me the profaner’s name!”
Spiagudry still strove to evade.
“Well, noble master, the profaner of this corpse is the assassin of that officer.”
“Then that officer was murdered?” asked Ordener, reminded, by this abrupt transition, of the object of his search.
“Yes, undoubtedly, sir.”
“And by whom,—by whom?”