The incredible violence of this greeting, when Marc himself was swayed by such legitimate anger, restored his calmness.
'I have come to see my child,' he answered; 'why was I not warned?'
The old lady, who had remained rigidly erect, seemed to understand on her side also that passion might place her in a position of inferiority.
'I had no reason to warn you,' she replied; 'I was waiting for Geneviève to request me to do so.'
'And she did not ask you?'
'No.'
All at once Marc fancied that he understood the position. In the person of his wife the Church had not only striven to kill the loving woman, it had wished to kill the mother also. If Geneviève, on the eve of her delivery, had not returned to him in accordance with his hopes, if she had hidden herself away as if she were ashamed, the reason must be that her child had been imputed to her as a crime. In order to keep her in that house they must have filled her mind with fear and horror, as if she were guilty of some sin, for which she would never obtain absolution unless she severed every tie that had united her to Satan.
'Is the baby a boy?' Marc asked.
'Yes, a boy.'
'Where is he? I wish to see and kiss him.'