"So he did me; but he was in league with them, for all that. Remember how he shot at a man in the wood, when no man was there."
"I certainly neither saw nor heard one."
"Nor did Casimir. The shot was a signal to his comrades, and told them that his trick had succeeded. And then his fear about being dragged into your quarrel! That was a blind, monsieur, meant to throw you off your guard."
"It certainly succeeded," I was forced to admit.
"And the fuss he made about foundering his horse! It was a mere trick to delay us on the road; there was nothing the matter with the beast."
"Do you think," I asked, "he behaved so rudely to those horsemen through fear that they might upset the plot?"
"No, monsieur," replied Jacques, with a shake of the head; "I cannot see through it clearly, but in my opinion that was all a part of the scheme. I believe they were the fellows who rode out on you while I was lying stunned."
"But why should they join us?"
"There is no telling, monsieur. It might have been to learn from Casimir if it was safe to carry out their plot. He was a crafty rogue. I had no suspicion of the truth until he began to make his horse plunge and rear. Then I knew he meant to kill me—by accident!" he concluded grimly.
"And in the confusion it would have been an easy matter to settle my account!"