“Why, yes, certainly, my good Julie.”

“You know quite well,” she continued, “that I have never done anything for the sake of money, but always for your sake; that I have never deceived you nor lied to you, that you have never had to find fault with me—­”

“Certainly, my good Julie.”

“Very well, then, monsieur; it cannot go on any longer like this.  I have said nothing, and left you in your ignorance, out of respect and liking for you, but it is too much, and every one in the neighborhood is laughing at you.  Everybody knows about it, and so I must tell you also, although I do not like to repeat it.  The reason why madame comes in at any time she chooses is that she is doing abominable things.”

He seemed stupefied and not to understand, and could only stammer out: 

“Hold your tongue; you know I have forbidden you——­”

But she interrupted him with irresistible resolution.  “No, monsieur, I must tell you everything now.  For a long time madame has been carrying on with Monsieur Limousin.  I have seen them kiss scores of times behind the door.  Ah! you may be sure that if Monsieur Limousin had been rich, madame would never have married Monsieur Parent.  If you remember how the marriage was brought about, you would understand the matter from beginning to end.”

Parent had risen, and stammered out, his face livid:  “Hold your tongue —­hold your tongue, or——­”

She went on, however:  “No, I mean to tell you everything.  She married you from interest, and she deceived you from the very first day.  It was all settled between them beforehand.  You need only reflect for a few moments to understand it, and then, as she was not satisfied with having married you, as she did not love you, she has made your life miserable, so miserable that it has almost broken my heart when I have seen it.”

He walked up and down the room with hands clenched, repeating:  “Hold your tongue—­hold your tongue——­” For he could find nothing else to say.  The old servant, however, would not yield; she seemed resolved on everything.

George, who had been at first astonished and then frightened at those angry voices, began to utter shrill screams, and remained behind his father, with his face puckered up and his mouth open, roaring.

His son’s screams exasperated Parent, and filled him with rage and courage.  He rushed at Julie with both arms raised, ready to strike her, exclaiming:  “Ah! you wretch.  You will drive the child out of his senses.”  He already had his hand on her, when she screamed in his face: 

“Monsieur, you may beat me if you like, me who reared you, but that will not prevent your wife from deceiving you, or alter the fact that your child is not yours——­”

He stopped suddenly, let his arms fall, and remained standing opposite to her, so overwhelmed that he could understand nothing more.

“You need only to look at the child,” she added, “to know who is its father!  He is the very image of Monsieur Limousin.  You need only look at his eyes and forehead.  Why, a blind man could not be mistaken in him.”