At this moment an object before us in the road diverted our
attention. It was the cut-under and the horse. They were
standing by the roadside where it makes a great turn to enter the
village from the south. There is a wide border to the road at
this point, clear of underbrush, where the forest edges it, and
there are here, at the whim of some one, or by chance, two great
flat stones, one lying upon the other, but not fitting by a
hand's thickness by reason of the uneven surfaces.

What had now happened was evident. The assailants of the
cut-under had abandoned it here before entering the village.
They could not, of course, go on with this incriminating vehicle.

The sight of the cut-under here had on Marquis the usual effect
of any important evidential sign. He at once ceased to hurry.
He pulled up; looked over the cut-under and the horse, and began
to saunter about.

This careless manner was difficult for me at such a time. But
for his assurance that Madame Barras, was uninjured it would have
been impossible. I had a blind confidence in the man although
his expressions were so absurdly in conflict.

I started to go on toward the village, but as he did not follow I
turned back. Marquis was sitting on the flat stones with a
cigarette in his fingers:

"Good heavens, man," I cried, "you're not stopping to smoke a
cigarette?"