But no answer, such as we expected, came from the women folk.
When we picked up our caps, and looked at Catherine, feeling
rather foolish, she was staring at us with a white face and great
scornful eyes. "Fools!" she said. "Fools!"

And that was all. But it was enough to take me aback. I had
looked to see her face lighten at our news; instead it wore an
expression I had never seen on it before. Catherine, so kind and
gentle, calling us fools! And without cause! I did not
understand it. I turned confusedly to Croisette. He was looking
at her, and I saw that he was frightened. As for Madame Claude,
she was crying in the corner. A presentiment of evil made my
heart sink like lead. What had happened?

"Fools!" my cousin repeated with exceeding bitterness, her foot
tapping the parquet unceasingly. "Do you think he would have
stooped to avenge himself on YOU? On you! Or that he could hurt
me one hundredth part as much here as--as--" She broke off
stammering. Her scorn faltered for an instant. "Bah! he is a
man! He knows!" she exclaimed superbly, her chin in the air,
"but you are boys. You do not understand!"

I looked amazedly at this angry woman. I had a difficulty in
associating her with my cousin. As for Croisette, he stepped
forward abruptly, and picked up a white object which was lying at
her feet.

"Yes, read it!" she cried, "read it! Ah!" and she clenched her
little hand, and in her passion struck the oak table beside her,
so that a stain of blood sprang out on her knuckles. "Why did you