She recognized her knife in the throat of the
murdered man. She had killed him.
The officer was talking of striking Rocreuse with terrible measures,
when soldiers came running to him. Dominique's escape had just been
discovered. It caused an extreme agitation. The officer went to the
apartment in which the prisoner had been confined, looked out of the
window which had remained open, understood everything and returned,
exasperated.
Pere Merlier seemed greatly vexed by Dominique's flight.
"The imbecile!" he muttered. "He has ruined all!"
Francoise heard him and was overcome with anguish. But the miller did
not suspect her of complicity in the affair. He tossed his head, saying
to her in an undertone:
"We are in a nice scrape!"
"It was that wretch who assassinated the soldier! I am sure of it!"
cried the officer. "He has undoubtedly reached the forest. But he must
be found for us or the village shall pay for him!"
Turning to the miller, he said:
"See here, you ought to know where he is hidden!"
Pere Merlier laughed silently, pointing to the wide stretch of wooden
hills.
"Do you expect to find a man in there?" he said.
"Oh, there must be nooks there with which you are acquainted.
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