men, and his strength was soon exhausted, he remained standing between
the two, panting, worn out, not knowing what to do next. His brutal fury
had expended itself in that effort, like the froth of a bottle of
champagne, and his unwonted energy ended in a gasping for breath. As soon
as he could speak, however, he said:

"Go away--both of you--immediately! Go away!"

Limousin remained motionless in his corner, against the wall, too
startled to understand anything as yet, too frightened to move a finger;
while Henriette, with her hands resting on a small, round table, her head
bent forward, her hair hanging down, the bodice of her dress unfastened,
waited like a wild animal which is about to spring. Parent continued in a
stronger voice: "Go away immediately. Get out of the house!"

His wife, however, seeing that he had got over his first exasperation
grew bolder, drew herself up, took two steps toward him, and, grown
almost insolent, she said: "Have you lost your head? What is the matter
with you? What is the meaning of this unjustifiable violence?"

But he turned toward her, and raising his fist to strike her, he
stammered out: "Oh--oh--this is too much, too much! I heard
everything! Everything--do you understand? Everything! You
wretch--you wretch! You are two wretches! Get out of the house, both
of you! Immediately, or I shall kill you! Leave the house!"

She saw that it was all over, and that he knew everything; that she could
not prove her innocence, and that she must comply. But all her impudence
had returned to her, and her hatred for the man, which was aggravated
now, drove her to audacity, made her feel the need of bravado, and of