"Whatever you desire," the miller replied, with his customary impassiveness. "Only it will be no easy matter."
The officer stooped down and drew aside the skirt of the cloak which concealed the dead man's face, disclosing as he did so a frightful wound. The sentinel had been struck in the throat and the weapon had not been withdrawn from the wound. It was a common kitchen-knife, with a black handle.
"Look at that knife," the officer said to Father Merlier. "Perhaps it will assist us in our investigation."
The old man had started violently, but recovered himself at once; not a muscle of his face moved as he replied:
"Everyone about here has knives like that. Like enough your man was tired of fighting and did the business himself. Such things have happened before now."
"Be silent!" the officer shouted in a fury. "I don't know what it is that keeps me from applying the torch to the four corners of your village."
His rage fortunately kept him from noticing the great change that had come over Françoise's countenance. Her feelings had compelled her to sit down upon the stone bench beside the well. Do what she would she could not remove her eyes from the body that lay stretched upon the ground, almost at her feet. He had been a tall, handsome young man in life, very like Dominique in appearance, with blue eyes and golden hair. The resemblance went to her heart. She thought that perhaps the dead man had left be-
