When we came to the cell, I took the precaution of telling the matron she could leave me, as after this visit I should have to join my husband and I could find my way to the front hall by myself. She opened the door in silence and let me in.
Crouching on the stone floor, in an animal attitude, I saw a woman. She did not look up when I went in nor turn when I shut the door. Her eyebrows almost joined above a square-tipped nose; and her eyes, shaded by long black lashes, were fixed upon the ground. Her hair grew well, out of a beautiful forehead, and the red curve of her mouth gave expression to a wax-like face. I had never seen a more striking-looking creature.
After my usual apology and a gentle recitative of why I had come, she turned what little I could see of her face away from me and whatever I suggested after that was greeted with impenetrable silence.
At last I said to her:
"It is so difficult for me to stand and talk while you are sitting on the ground. Won't you get up?"
No answer. At this—being an active woman—I sat down beside her on the stone floor and took her hand in both of mine. She did not withdraw it, but lifted her lashes to look at me. I noted the sullen, exhausted expression in her grey eyes; my heart beat at the beauty of her face.
"Why don't you speak to me?" I said. "I might, for all you know, be able to do a great deal for you."
This was greeted by a faint gleam and a prolonged shake of the head.
MARGOT: "You look very young. What is it you did, that brought you into this prison,"
My question seemed to surprise her and after a moment's silence she said: