here are five clocks in the house. Why should they all go wrong at the
same time and in the same manner?"

He smiled. "I don't know," he said frankly. "I'll investigate, if you will
permit me."

"Of course.... And, about L'Ombre. What could explain its presence in the
moat? It is a creature of icy waters; it is extremely limited in its
range. My father has often said that, except L'Ombre which has appeared at
long intervals in our moat, L'Ombre never has been seen in Brittany."

"From where does this clear water come which fills the moat?" he asked,
smiling.

"From living springs in the bottom."

"No doubt," he said cheerfully, "a long subterranean vein of water
connects these springs with some distant Alpine river, somewhere--in the
Pyrenees, perhaps--" He hesitated, for the explanation seemed as
far-fetched as the water.

Perhaps it so appeared to her, for she remained politely silent.

Suddenly, in the house, a clock struck five times. They both sat listening
intently. From the depths of the ancient mansion, the other clocks
repeated the strokes, first one, then another, then two sounding their
clear little bells almost in unison. All struck five. He drew out his
watch and looked at it. The hour was three in the afternoon.

After a moment her attitude, a trifle rigid, relaxed. He muttered
something about making an examination of the clocks, adding that to adjust
and regulate them would be a simple matter.

She sat very still beside him on the stone coping--her dark eyes wandered
toward the forest--wonderful eyes, dreamily preoccupied--the visionary
eyes of a Bretonne, full of the mystery and beauty of magic things unseen.

Venturing, at last, to disturb the delicate sequence of her thoughts:
"Madame," he said, "have you heard any rumours concerning enemy
airships--or, undersea boats?"

The tranquil gaze returned, rested on him: "No, but something has been
happening in the Aulnes Etang."

"What?"

"I don't know. But every day the wild ducks rise from it in fright--clouds
of them--and the curlew and lapwings fill the sky with their clamour."

"A poacher?"

"I know of none remaining here in Finistere."

"Have you seen anything in the sky? An eagle?"

"Only the wild fowl whirling above the _etang_."

"You have heard nothing--from the clouds?"

"Only the _vanneaux_ complaining and the wild curlew answering."

"Where is L'Ombre?" he asked, vaguely troubled.

She rose; he followed her across the br