"But—"

"I have too much of it. I want no more of it."

"I do not understand you, monsieur."

"No? Well, then, when a person or a thing plagues me, I get rid of it, and the quicker the better."

Notwithstanding his excitement, Madame Bastien did not for a moment believe that her husband thought of killing her; so, trying to discover his intention, under his mask of besotted anger, she said to him:

"If I understand you rightly, monsieur, you have decided to rid yourself of persons who annoy you or displease you?"

"Just so! As your little puppy of a son plagues me, to-morrow I will get rid of him."

"You will get rid of him? But, monsieur—"

"Silence! Bridou will take him; he will take him away with him to-morrow evening, upon our return from Blémur."

"You say, monsieur, that M. Bridou will take my son; please explain to me."