QUOTE : People were asleep in the surrounding houses. Old Bariteau, somewhere in the rustling darkness, was looking for holes in the seabed to place his eel nets. ‘Maybe it’s for the best.’ It was the judge speaking again. ‘Would you like to come inside?’ He took a few steps, as if forgetting his package. There was such an oppressive calm around them that they had the impression they were living in slow motion. ‘Perhaps it would be more convenient to take the body back indoors?’ the judge suggested, reluctantly.