trying to outdo the previous speaker.
When they came to some pretty words about a sweet Maurice, their little
child away with its mother on some visit, they laughed at M. de la
Tourelle, and told him that he would be hearing such woman's drivelling
some day. Up to that moment, I think, I had only feared him, but his
unnatural, half-ferocious reply made me hate even more than I dreaded
him. But now they grew weary of their savage merriment; the jewels and
watch had been apprised, the money and papers examined; and apparently
there was some necessity for the body being interred quietly and before
daybreak. They had not dared to leave him where he was slain for fear
lest people should come and recognise him, and raise the hue and cry
upon them. For they all along spoke as if it was their constant endeavour
to keep the immediate neighbourhood of Les Rochers in the most orderly
and tranquil condition, so as never to give cause for visits from the
gendarmes. They disputed a little as to whether they should make their
way into the castle larder through the gallery, and satisfy their hunger
before the hasty interment, or afterwards. I listened with eager feverish
interest as soon as this meaning of their speeches reached my hot and
troubled brain, for at the time the words they uttered seemed only to
stamp themselves with terrible force on my memory, so that I could hardly
keep from repeating them aloud like a dull, miserable, unconscious echo;
but my brain was numb to the sense of what they said, unless I myself
were named, and then, I suppose, some instinct of self-preservation
stirred within me, and quickened my sense. And how I strained my ears,
and nerved my hands and limbs, beginning to twitch with convulsive
movements, which I feared might betray me! I gathered every word they
spoke, not knowing which proposal to wish for, but feeling that whatever
was finally decided upon, my only chance of escape was drawing near. I
once feared lest my husband should go to his bedroom before I had had
that one chance, in which case he would most likely have perceived my
absence. He said that his hands were soiled (I shuddered, for it might
be with life-blood), and he would go and cleanse them; but some bitter
jest turned his purpose, and he left the room with the other two--left
it by the gallery door. Left me alone in the dark with the stiffening
corpse!

Now, now was my time, if ever; and yet I could not move. It was not my
cramped