or knock. Let them burst the door first."

The very excess of her fright restored to Mme. Favoral a portion of
her energy. Throwing herself before her husband as if to protect
him, as if to defend him,

"They are coming to arrest you, Vincent," she exclaimed. "They are
coming; don't you hear them?"

He remained motionless, his feet seemingly riveted to the floor.

"That is as I expected," he said.

And with the accent of the wretch who sees all hope vanish, and who
utterly gives up all struggle,

"Be it so," he said. "Let them arrest me, and let all be over at once.
I have had enough anxiety, enough unbearable alternatives. I am tired
always to feign, to deceive, and to lie. Let them arrest me! Any
misfortune will be smaller in reality than the horrors of uncertainty.
I have nothing more to fear now. For the first time in many years I
shall sleep to-night."

He did not notice the sinister expression of his guests. "You think
I am a thief," he added: "well, be satisfied, justice shall be done."

But he attributed to them sentiments which were no longer theirs.
They had forgotten their anger, and their bitter resentment for their
lost money.