He reached the door of the inn together with Monsieur Gaubert.
Full of evil forebodings, Rabecque hailed the runner.
"What has happened ?" he cried.

"Where is Monsieur de Garnache ?" Gaubert came to a staggering halt; he groaned and wrung his hands.
"Killed!" he panted, rocking himself in a passion of distress.

"He has been butchered! Oh! it was horrible!" Rabecque gripped him by the shoulder, and steadied him with a hand that hurt.

"What do you say ?" he gasped, his face white to the lips.
Tressan halted, too, and turned upon Gaubert, a look of incredulity in his fat countenance.

"Who has been killed ?" he asked.