With a quick movement of the arm, she gave a push to the statue, which fell to the ground and broke into halves.
"What are you doing?" he cried.
"Leave me alone ... leave me alone," said Suzanne, in an angry voice.
It was as though her action had loosed in her a long-contained fury and wicked instincts which she was no longer able to control. She rushed forwards and madly kicked and raged at the broken pieces of the statue.
He tried to interfere and took her by the arm. She turned upon him:
"I won't have you touch me!... It's your fault.... Let me go ... I hate you!... Yes, it's all your fault!..."
And, releasing herself from his grasp, she fled towards the house.
The scene had not lasted twenty seconds.
"Hang it!" snarled Philippe, though he was not in the habit of swearing.