"Oh, my God!" she prayed. "Help me! Help me! Louis, be kind to me! A life of repentance——"
He pulled her roughly to her feet and half-carried her toward the door.
"Don't take my child away from me!" she panted, struggling.
"Go! Leave the house!"
"Oh! Let me see him! I won't—speak! Let me kiss him! I won't—say a word!" she gasped as they reached the door and he pushed her violently through into the hall.
"Louis! Pity—! Raymond! My child, my——"
The slam of the door cut off the sound of the pleading voice from his ears. He held the knob to prevent her from reopening it. For a few moments there was silence. Then Floriot heard through the door something between a choke and a sob and the quickly receding rustle of skirts. The bang of the outside door echoed through the silent house.