“Come, make ready,” she said to the girl, “the wagon will be here in a moment. Did you give our friend the bottle?”
As she turned, she perceived that the door of my cell was open. She sprang to it, cast one look within and saw by the light of the lantern that it was empty.
“He is gone!” she screamed, and turned her glaring eyes and working face upon the girl. “You drab, it was with your help!”
Doubtless in that instant she saw her plans crumbling about her, she felt the meshes of the law tightening, at the end of the path loomed the black gibbet. This time she would not escape! Small wonder that the blood leaped to her eyes, as she stood there trembling, strangled by rage, unable to speak!
Then the bonds loosened and she sprung upon the girl like a cat upon its prey.
“Curse you!” she screamed. “You shall pay for it—you!” and she snatched a knife from the table.
In an instant, my strength and manhood came back to me, and I dashed open the door.
“You devil!” I said between my teeth. “You devil!” and I was upon her.
Even as I grasped her hair, she raised the knife and plunged it deep into the girl’s breast. I dragged back her head, dashed my fist into her face and threw her against the wall with all my strength. She struck with a dull crash, rebounded to the floor and lay there with closed eyes, the blood oozing from her nose and mouth, her red knife still in her hand.
“Pray heaven, I have killed you!” I said, and stooped and raised Ninon in my arms.