Noting this movement, which was far from announcing hostile intentions, and hearing this accent of despair, the councillor's wife forgot all her suspicions, emerged for the second time from her fortress, approached the Marquis, and said to him in a softer voice, but which betrayed a little pettishness:
"Who told you I would not listen to you, young man? Why are you going away? Although the question of your lawsuit may be settled, it is my husband's duty to listen to your claims. . . . Confide in me, then . . . reassure yourself. Have I such a terrifying look? See, come near me,—don't be afraid!" And thus speaking, Martha took the Marquis by the hand and led him slowly to a scat, repeating: "Tranquillize yourself; you must not be afraid of me any more, my child."
At this moment a burst of roaring laughter was heard, the cloth on the table was suddenly thrust aside, and the great fat councillor appeared, blunderbuss in hand, crying with increasing merriment:
"Where is your poniard now? where is your helmet? where is your buckler, Martha? It is you who have to soothe this Pharaoh! this Nebuchadnezzar. . . . Ah, ha! behold Judith calming the emotion of Holofernes!"
All this was utterly incomprehensible to Létorière, who, for the moment, surprised by the sudden apparition of the councillor, could hardly control the desire to laugh which the grotesque figure of Flachsinfingen excited.
But Martha, as much irritated as humiliated by her husband's raillery at the foolish precautions she had taken, rushed towards him angrily, crying:
"Are you not ashamed to employ such vile means to play the spy upon your wife? Oh, you odious tyrant! Oh, you abominably jealous man! God o' mercy! have I ever given you cause to doubt my virtue?"
And Martha raised her eyes towards heaven to call God to witness the injustice of the poor councillor's suspicion, who, astonished, stupefied by such unexpected reproaches, stood with open mouth, the blunderbuss in his hand.
"How then, my wife," said he; "you? . . ."
"I will hear nothing from you," said Martha, taking him by the arm . . . "Leave me." . . .