embezzled millions, she admitted: that he had deceived and betrayed
her so shamefully, that he had made a wretched dupe of her for so
many years, seemed to her insensate, monstrous, impossible.

And purple with shame:

"Your suspicions would vanish at once, sir," she said to the
commissary, "if I could but explain to you our mode of life."

Encouraged by his first discovery, he was proceeding more minutely
with his perquisitions, undoing the strings of every bundle.

"It is useless, madame," he answered in that brief tone which made so
much impression upon M. Desclavettes. "You can only tell me what you
know; and you know nothing."

"Never, sir, did a man lead a more regular life than M. Favoral."

"In appearance, you are right. Besides, to regulate one's disorder
is one of the peculiarities of our time. We open credits to our
passions, and we keep account of our infamies by double entry. We
operate with method. We embezzle millions that we may hang diamonds
to the ears of an adventuress; but we are careful, and we keep the
receipted bills."

"But, sir, I have already told you that I never lost sight of my
husband."

"Of course."