She lay like a dead thing in her sister’s arms.
“Eduard, go out of the room.”
“I’ll go,” he said. “But I shall stay until the dinner is over....”
He went away.
“The wretch! The wretch!” moaned Emilie. “He’s bruised my breast. Lucky that he did: now I can get a divorce, can’t I, Louise?... Louise, do you know the law?”
“No, my darling, but Papa will tell you all about it. But keep calm, keep calm....”
“Where has he gone?”
“If you don’t mind being left alone, I’ll go and see....”
“No, stay with me, stay with me....”
There was a knock at the door.