"After all, it's too silly! The maid distinctly said: 'There's a medal in the house, the kind of thing they're looking for at the Manor.' Then let's make use of the opportunity, what? What failed in the case of the Baron may succeed to-day."
"What? You'd——"
"Make her speak—yes. As I tried to make the Baron speak. Only, she's a woman, she is."
D'Estreicher had taken off his cap. His evil face wore an expression of savage cruelty. He went to the door, locked it, and put the key in his pocket. Then he came back to the arm-chair in which the good lady was sleeping, gazed at her a moment and of a sudden fell upon her, gripping her throat, and thrust her backwards against the back of the chair.
His confederate chuckled:
"You needn't give yourself all that trouble. If you squeeze too hard, you'll kill the poor old thing."
D'Estreicher opened his fingers a little. The old woman opened her eyes wide and uttered a low groan.
"Speak!" d'Estreicher commanded. "The Baron intrusted a medal to you. Where have you put it?"
Juliet Assire did not clearly understand what was happening to her. She struggled. Exasperated, he shook her.
"Will you prattle? Hey? Where's your old sweetheart's medal? He gave it to you all right. Don't say he didn't, you old hag! Your maid's telling everybody who cares to listen to her. Come, speak up. If you don't——"