She seized him, trembling at her tone, and impelled him into the entrance, exclaiming:
"You hate Barabant? Answer me, you hate him!"
"I swear—" he began, when she cut him short: "Fool, I despise him! Do you hear me? I despise him!"
While Cramoisin remained, with gaping mouth, incapable of words, the old woman poured out her reviling. At last he asked, in amazement:
"What do you want of me?"
"I want your help to destroy him."
"Then why didn't you say so at first?"
Fearing to be forced into explanations, she abated her fury and more calmly demanded:
"You have a plan; what is it?"