For the moment Richard seemed nonplussed.
"Well," he replied with determination, "I would not strike any woman with a chair myself. Ask the wife whether I would! Not—" he added, as though to explain this apparent idiosyncrasy of his—"not while the good God has given me two hands for the purpose."
"Nonsense!"
There was a brief silence, during which Richard's glance fell upon the few pathetic garments so carefully folded upon the narrow bed.
"So my poor little prisoner is to die today," he murmured sadly.
"Yes," answered the Deputy, "and I am glad of it. There is no room in France for such vermin. They must be exterminated, and the sooner the better. I know what I am saying, and I tell you that this woman Corday is a dangerous character. She has others behind her. She is but an accomplice. I am here this evening," he explained, "to try and find out from her the names of her confederates. She would give no satisfactory replies this afternoon, but perhaps, now that the fear of death is upon her, we may be more successful."
"AT LAST, TOWARD EVENING, SHE FORCED HER WAY IN"