“We are alone!”
She turned round at the noise, and cried,—
“Jacques!”
And terrified, as if she had seen a ghost, she looked all around, hoping to see a way out. One of the tall windows of the room, which went down to the ground, was half open, and she rushed towards it; but Jacques anticipated her, and said,—
“Do not attempt to escape; for I swear I should pursue you into your husband’s room, to the foot of his bed.”
She looked at him as if she did not comprehend.
“You,” she stammered,—“you here!”
“Yes,” he replied, “I am here. You are astonished, are you? You said to yourself, ‘He is in prison, well kept under lock and key: I can sleep in peace. No evidence can be found. He will not speak. I have committed the crime, and he will be punished for it. I am guilty; but I shall escape. He is innocent, and he is lost.’ You thought it was all settled? Well, no, it is not. I am here!”
An expression of unspeakable horror contracted the beautiful features of the countess. She said,—
“This is monstrous!”