When we reached the parkland trees, however, the smell of fallen leaves brought a freshness to the air. My husband remained silent. He was obviously listening and watching for something. With his huntsman’s instinct now fully aroused he seemed almost to be sniffing the shadows for a scent.

Soon we reached the edge of the lakes. Here again not a breath of air ruffled their tresses of reeds. But barely perceptible movements could be seen in the water itself. A point would appear on the surface and from it would spread, like luminous furrows on a brow, a series of gently widening ripples.

When we reached the blind where we were to lie in ambush my husband ushered me in first then slowly loaded his gun. The click of the flintlock produced a strange effect on me. Sensing my alarm, my husband said, ‘Perhaps you have seen enough by now. If so, do feel free to leave.’

His words surprised me and I said, ‘Certainly not. Why should I leave now, for goodness’ sake? You are in a strange mood tonight.’

‘Just as you wish,’ he murmured.

We remained there motionless until, after half an hour or so when still nothing had come to disturb the deep tranquillity of the clear night, I whispered: ‘Are you absolutely certain this is the way he comes?’

Hervé started as if I had suddenly bitten him.

‘Absolutely sure! Get that straight!’ he hissed, close to my ear.

Once again, silence fell. I was just beginning to nod off when my husband gripped my arm. In a changed voice he whispered urgently again, ‘There! Can you see him? Over by the trees!’

I looked but could make out nothing. Slowly and without taking his eyes off me he put his gun to his shoulder. I too was about to fire when suddenly, no more than thirty paces away, a man came out into the moonlight. He was moving quickly, his body hunched, as if running away from something. I was so stupefied that I cried out loudly. Before I could turn round I saw a flash and heard a deafening report. I watched as the man rolled on the ground like a wolf struck by a bullet.

I started to scream with fright when suddenly Hervé grabbed me furiously round the throat with his hand. I was thrown to the ground, then picked up bodily and carried aloft by him towards the figure stretched out on the ground. He hurled me hard on top of it as if he wanted to crack open my skull. I thought my last moment had come. He was about to kill me. Already his heel was poised over my forehead.