“Alone!“criedtheknitter，andherpolishedneedlesstrucksoviolentlyagainsteachotherthatyoucouldhearthemclick。“Myhusbandcannotbetoblameforthat；Toulanmusthavetalkedhimintoit，andhemusthaveareasonforit；hemusthaveareason，andifitisonlyfromhishavingpityuponher，thatisenoughandmorethanenoughtobringhimundersuspicionandtobuildanaccusationupon。Hemustberemoved，sayI。ThereshallnosuchcompassionatewormsashecreepintotheTemple。Iwillclearthemout——Iwillclearthemoutwithhumanblood!“
Shelookedsodevilish，hereyesglaredsowithsuchacruelcoldness，andsuchafiendishsmileplayeduponherpale，thinlips，thatevenMadameTisonwasafraidofher，andfeltasifacold，poisonousspiderwascreepingslowlyoverherheart。
“Theyaresittingstilloutside，yousay？“askedMadameSimon，afterapause。
“Yes，theyarestillsittingoutsideuponthelanding，andtheAustrianwomanisatthistimealoneunwatchedwithherbrood，andshewillbealonefortwohoursyet，forthereisnochangeofguardtillthen。“
“Thatistrue，yes，thatistrue，“criedtheknitter，andhernostrilsexpandedlikethoseofthehyenawhenonthescentofblood。“Theywillsituptheretwohourslonger，playingcardsandsingingstupidsongs，andwheedlingmymonkeyofahusbandwiththeirflatteries，makinghimbelievethattheylovehim，lovehimboundlessly，andtheyletthemselvesbelockedintotheTempleforhissake，and——oh!ifIhadthemhere，Iwouldstranglethemwithmyownhands!Iwouldmakeadaggerofeveryoneofmyknitting-needlesandthrustitintotheirhearts!Butquiet，quiet，“shecontinuedinagrumblingtone，“everythingmustgooninaregularway。Willyoutakemyplacehereforhalfanhourandguardthedoor？Ihavesomethingimportanttodo，somethingveryimportant。“
“Itwillbeaverygreathonor，“repliedMadameTison，“averygreathonortobethesubstituteofonesowellknownandrespectedasyouare，ofwhomeveryoneknowsthatsheisthebestpatriotandthemostcourageousknitter，whoseeyelashesneverquiver，andwhocancalmlygoonwithherstitcheswhentheheadsfallfromtheguillotineintothebasket。“
“IfIdidtremble，andmyeyelashesdidquiver，Iwoulddashmyownfistsintomyeyes!“saidMadameSimon，withherhardcoarsevoice，risingandthrowingherthin，threadbarecloakoverhershoulders。
“IfIfoundasparkofsympathyinmyheart，Iwouldinundateitwiththebloodofaristocratstillitshouldbeextinguished，andtillthatshouldbe，Iwoulddespiseandhatemyself，forIshouldbenotonlyabadpatriot，butabaddaughterofmyunfortunatefather。Thecursedaristocratshavenotonlybroughtmiseryonourcountryandpeople，buttheymurderedmydeargoodfather。Yes，murderedIsay。Theysaidhewasahightraitor。Anddoyouknowwhy？BecausehetoldaloudthenicestoriesabouttheAustrianwoman，whowasthenourqueen，which，hadbeenwhisperedintohisear，andbecausehesaidthatthekingwasameretoolinthehandsofhiswife。Theyshotmygood，bravefatherforwhathehadsaid，andwhichtheycalledtreason，althoughitwasonlythenakedtruth。
YetIwillnotworkmyselfintoapassionaboutit，andIwillonlythankGodthatthattimeispast，andIwilldomypartthatitshallnotcomeback。Andthatiswhywemustbeawakeandonourguard，thatnoaristocratandnoloyalisttieleft，butthattheyallbeguillotined，all!There，takeyourplaceonmychair，andtakemyknitting-work。Ah!ifitcouldspeaktoyouasitdoestome——ifitcouldtellyouwhatheadswetwohaveseenfall，youngandold，handsome，distinguished——itwouldbefinesportforyouandmakeyoulaugh。Butgood-byjustnow!Keepastrictlookout!Ishallcomebacksoon。“
Andshedidcomebacksoon，thisworthywoman，withtriumphantbearingandflashingeyes，lookingasthecatlookswhenithasamouseinitssoftvelvetypaws，andisgoingtopushitspoisonousclawsintothequiveringflesh。Shetookherknitting-workupandbadeTisontogoupagaintoherpost。
“Andwhenyoucan，“shesaid，“justtouchtheAustrianwomanalittle，andpayheroffforbeingsomanyhoursunwatched。Inthatwayyouwillmeritarewardfromthepeople，andthatisaswellasdeservingoneofGod。Provokeher——provoketheproudAustrian!“
“Itisveryhardtodoit，“saidTison，sighing——“veryhard，I
assureyou，fortheAustrianisverycoldandmoderateoflate。
SinceLouisCapetdied，thewidowisverymuchchanged，andnowsheissouniforminhertemperthatitseemsasifnothingwouldprovokeorexciteher。“
“Whatweakandtendercreaturesyouallare!“saidSimon’swife，withashrug。“Itisveryplainthattheyfedyouonmilkwhenyouwereyoung。Butmymothernursedmewithhate。Iwasscarcelytenyearswhentheyshotmyfather，andnotadaypassedafterthatwithoutmymother’stellingmethatwemustavengehismurderonthewholelineageoftheking。IhadtoswearthatIwoulddoit。Shegaveme，formydailyfood，hatredagainstthearistocrats；itwasthemeattomysauce，thesugartomycoffee，thebuttertomybread!Ilivedandthroveuponit。Lookatme，andseewhatsuchfarehasmadeofme!Lookatme!Iamnotyettwenty-fouryearsold，andyetIhavetheappearanceofanoldwoman，andIhavethefeelingandtheexperienceofanoldwoman!Nothingmovesmenow，andtheonlythingthatlivesandburnsinmyheartisrevenge。
Believeme，wereIinyourplaceIshouldknowhowtoexasperatetheAustrian；Ishouldsucceedindrawingouthertears。“
“Well，andhowwouldyoubegin？Really，Ishouldliketoknowhowtobringthisincarnationofpridetoweeping。“
“Hasnotshechildren？“askedMadameSimon，withahorriblecalmness。“Iwouldtortureandprovokethechildren，andthatwouldsoonmaketheheartofthewomanhumbleandpliable。Oh，shemaycountherselfhappythatIamnotinyourplace，andthatherchildrenarenotundermytenderhands。ButifiteverhappensthatIcanlaymyfingersupontheshouldersofthelittlewolves，Iwillgivethemsomethingthatwillmakethemcryout，andmaketheoldwolfhowlwithrage。IwillshowheraslittlefavorthenassheshowedwhenmypoormotherandIwerebeggingformydearfather!Goup，goupandtryatonce。Plaguethechildren，andyouwillseethatthatwillmaketheAustrianpliable。“
“Thatisfinetalk，“mutteredTison，asshewentupthestaircase，“butshehasnochildren，whileIhaveadaughter，adear，gooddaughter。Sheisnotwithme，butwithmymotherinNormandy，becauseshecanbetakenbettercareoftherethanhere。Itisbetterforthegoodchildthatshehasnotgonethroughtheseevildaysfullofbloodandgriefwithus。ButIamalwaysthinkingofher，andwhenoneofthesetwochildrenherelooksuptomesogravelywithgreat，openeyes，italwaysmakesmethinkofmySolonge。Shehasexactlysuchlarge，innocenteyes，andthattouchesmyheartsothatIcannotbeharshwiththechildren。They，ofcourse，arenotatalltoblameforhavingsuchbad，miserableparents，whohavetreatedthepeopleshamefully，andmadethempoorandwretched。No，theyhavehadnothingtodowithit，andIcannotbeseverewiththechildren，forIamalwaysthinkingofmylittleSolonge!IwillprovoketheAustrianwomanasmuchasIcan，butnotthechildren——no，notthechildren!“
Meanwhile，MistressSimonhadtakenherplaceuponthechairneartheopendoorintheporter’slodge，andsattherewithhercold，immovablefacestaringintoemptyspacewithhergreatcoal-black，glisteningeyes，whileherhandswerebusilyflying，makingthepolishedknitting-needlesclickagainsteachother。
Shewasstillsittingthere，whenatlastherhusbandcamedownthestairstoopentheouterdooroftheTemple，conducthisfriendspasttheinnercourt，andtobringbackthetwoofficialswhoweretokeepguardduringthenight。
Theypassedtheknitterwithafriendlysalutationandabitofpleasantry——Toulanstoppingamomenttoaskthewomanafterherwelfare，andtosayafewsmoothwordstoherabouthercourageandhergreatforceofcharacter。
Shelistenedquietly，lethimgoonwithhistalk，andwhenhehadended，slowlyraisedhergreateyesfromherknittingtohim。
“Youareatraitor，“shesaid，withcoldness，andwithoutanyagitation。“Yes，youareatraitor，andyou，too，willhaveyourturnattheguillotine!“
Toulanpaledalittle，butcollectedhimselfimmediately，tookleaveoftheknitterwithasmile，andhastenedaftertheofficials，whowerewaitingforhimattheopendoor——thetwowhoweretoholdthewatchduringthenighthavingalreadyentered。
Simonclosedthedoorafterthem，exchangedafewwordswiththem，andthenwentintohislodgetojoinhisrigidbetterhalf。
“Thishasbeenapleasantafternoon，anditisagreatpitythatitisgone，forIhavehadaverygoodtime。Wehaveplayedcards，sung，smoked，andToulanhasmadejokesandtoldstories，andmademuchfun。Ialwayswonderwherehegetssomanyfinestories，andhetellsthemsowellthatIcouldhearhimdayandnight。Nowthatheisgone，itseemstediousanddullenoughhere。Well，wemustcomfortourselvesthatto-morrowwillcomebyandby。“
“Whatdoyoumeanbythat？“askedhiswife，sternly。
“Whatsortofadaydoyouexpectto-morrowtobe？“
“Apleasantday，mydearHeloise，forCitizenToulanwillhavethewatchagain。Ibeggedhimsolong，thatheatlastpromisedtoexchangewithCitizenPelletan，whoseturnregularlycomesto-
morrow。Pelletanisnotwell，anditwouldbeveryhardforhimtositupthereallday，and，besides，hewouldbedreadfullystupid。
ItisagreatdealpleasantertohaveToulanherewithhisjokesandjollystories，andsoIbeggedhimtocomeandtakePelletan’splace。Heisgoingtoaccommodatemeandcome。“
Hiswifedidnotansweraword，butbrokeoutinaburstofshrill，mockinglaughter，andwithherangryblackeyesshescrutinizedherhusband’sred，bloatedface，asthoughshewerereadinghimthroughandthrough。
“Whatareyoulaughingat？“heasked，angrily。“Iwouldliketobebeyondhearingwhenyougivewayinthatstyle。Whatareyoulaughingat？“
“BecauseIwonderatyou，youJack，“sheansweredsharply。“Becauseyouaredeterminedtomakeanassofyourself，andletdustbethrowninyoureyes，andputyourselfatthedisposalofeveryonewhosoapsyouoverwithsmoothwords。“
“Come，“saidSimon，“noneofthatcoarseness!andifyou——“
“Hist!“sheanswered，commandingly。“IwillshowyouatoncethatI
havetoldyouthetruth，andthatyouaremakinganassofyourself，oratleastthatyouareonthepointofdoingso。Now，listen。“
Theknitterlaidherworkaside，andhadalongconversationinawhisperwithherhusband。Whenitended，Simonstoodupwearingadarklook，andwalkedslowlybackwardandforwardinthelittleroom。Thenhestoppedandshookhisfistthreateninglyattheroomabove。“Sheshallpayforthis，“hemuttered——“byGodinheaven!
sheshallpayforthis。Sheisagood-for-nothingseducer!Eveninprisonshedoesnotleaveoffcoquetting，andflirting，andturningtheheadsofthemen!Itisdisgraceful，thoroughlydisgraceful，andsheshallpayforit!Iwillsoonfindmeanstohavemyrevengeonher!“
DuringthewholeeveningMistressTisondidnotleaveherplacebehindtheglassdoorforamoment，andateachstolenglancewhichthequeencastthithershealwaysencounteredthemalicious，glaringeyesofthekeeper，directedatherwithanimpudentcoolness。
Atlastcamethehourofgoingtobed——thehourtowhichthequeenlookedimpatientlyforward。Atnightshewasatleastaloneandunguarded。Afterthedeathoftheking，ithadbeenfoundsuperfluoustotroubletheofficialswiththewearisomenight-
watches，andtheyweresatisfied，afterdarknesshadsetinandthecandleswerelighted，withlockingthethreedoorswhichledtotheinnerrooms。