"You lie!" cried the colossus, in a formidable voice.
"Oh, speak lower, monsieur, I implore you, speak lower."
"You are hiding your jewels to keep from paying me," added Hercules, taking a step toward his wife with his fists clenched, and his face livid with rage; "you are twice a thief!"
"Please, monsieur, do not scream so!" cried the young woman, not thinking of the grossness of the insults heaped upon her, but fearing that Frederick and David might be awakened by his loud talk.
In short, furious that he could not obtain his wife's jewels as a compensation for the loss of his silver,—the one idea which had occupied his mind the whole evening,—Jacques, excited to frenzy by wine and disappointed rage, cried out:
"Ah! you have hidden those jewels, have you? Well, it will not be to-morrow that you will go out of my house, but it will be to-night,—at once."
"Monsieur, this is a cruel jest," replied Marie, overcome by so many bitter experiences. "I desire to go to my chamber; it is late, and I am chilled. To-morrow we will talk seriously; you will then regain your self-possession, and—"
"That is as much as to say I am drunk now, eh?"
"To-morrow, monsieur. Permit me to retire."
Jacques, dreadful with anger, hatred, and drunkenness, walked up to his wife, and pointing to the dark corridor which conducted to the outside door, said: