"That's a fine dog," observed Durand, also rising.
"Why don't you wish to find his skull?" I asked Le Bihan. "It would be
curious to see whether the arrow brand really burned into the bone."
"There is something in that scroll that I didn't read to you," said the
mayor grimly. "Do you wish to know what it is?"
"Of course," I replied in surprise.
"Give me the scroll again, Durand," he said; then he read from the
bottom: "I, l'Abbé Sorgue, forced to write the above by my executioners,
have written it in my own blood; and with it I leave my curse. My curse
on St. Gildas, on Marie Trevec, and on her descendants. I will come back
to St. Gildas when my remains are disturbed. Woe to that Englishman whom
my branded skull shall touch!"
"What rot!" I said. "Do you believe it was really written in his own
blood?"
"I am going to test it," said Fortin, "at the request of Monsieur le
Maire. I am not anxious for the job, however."
"See," said Le Bihan, holding out the scroll to me, "it is signed,
'L'Abbé Sorgue.'"