“Alone!“criedtheknitter，andherpolishedneedlesstrucksoviolentlyagainsteachotherthatyoucouldhearthemclick。“Myhusbandcannotbetoblameforthat；Toulanmusthavetalkedhimintoit，andhemusthaveareasonforit；hemusthaveareason，andifitisonlyfromhishavingpityuponher，thatisenoughandmorethanenoughtobringhimundersuspicionandtobuildanaccusationupon。Hemustberemoved，sayI。ThereshallnosuchcompassionatewormsashecreepintotheTemple。Iwillclearthemout——Iwillclearthemoutwithhumanblood!“
Shelookedsodevilish，hereyesglaredsowithsuchacruelcoldness，andsuchafiendishsmileplayeduponherpale，thinlips，thatevenMadameTisonwasafraidofher，andfeltasifacold，poisonousspiderwascreepingslowlyoverherheart。
“Theyaresittingstilloutside，yousay？“askedMadameSimon，afterapause。
“Yes，theyarestillsittingoutsideuponthelanding，andtheAustrianwomanisatthistimealoneunwatchedwithherbrood，andshewillbealonefortwohoursyet，forthereisnochangeofguardtillthen。“
“Thatistrue，yes，thatistrue，“criedtheknitter，andhernostrilsexpandedlikethoseofthehyenawhenonthescentofblood。“Theywillsituptheretwohourslonger，playingcardsandsingingstupidsongs，andwheedlingmymonkeyofahusbandwiththeirflatteries，makinghimbelievethattheylovehim，lovehimboundlessly，andtheyletthemselvesbelockedintotheTempleforhissake，and——oh!ifIhadthemhere，Iwouldstranglethemwithmyownhands!Iwouldmakeadaggerofeveryoneofmyknitting-needlesandthrustitintotheirhearts!Butquiet，quiet，“shecontinuedinagrumblingtone，“everythingmustgooninaregularway。Willyoutakemyplacehereforhalfanhourandguardthedoor？Ihavesomethingimportanttodo，somethingveryimportant。“