Theresa Raquin

hief gave him to understand that in future he was forbidden to absent himself. He had taken too many

wrathful countenance of Therese was a torture to him, and he was unable to find an opportunity to explain to her how it was he had

other any more. My chief refuses

er delectation, she passed a sleepless night, arranging extravagant plans for a meeting with her sweetheart. The following Thursday, she spoke with Laurent for a minute at the most. Their anxiety was all the keener as they did not know where to

hich his ladylove showered on him, he now sought her embraces with the obstinacy of a famished animal. A sanguineous passion had lurked in his muscles, and now that his sweetheart was taken from him,

hin him, to end by casting him, bound hand and foot, into the arms of Therese. At this hour, he was in dread lest he should omit to be prudent. He no longer dared go of an evening to the shop in the Arcade of the Pont Neuf lest he should co

a letter from Therese, asking him to remain at home the followin

e indignant creditor who would listen to nothing, declared that she intended calling on her debtor with the view of asking for payment of the money that was due. The customer now lived at Batignolles. Madame Raquin an

. Beads of perspiration covered her face, and her hands were burning. Anyone might have taken her for a drunken woman. She rapidly ascended the staircase o

ng off her hat with one hand leant against the bedstead in a faint. Through the lift-up wind

heard a clock in the neighbourhood strike ten. She felt as if she would have liked to have been deaf. Nevertheless

ust

knees before her,

each other again," sa

in!" he exclaimed, "that is too ind

him full

Well, then, to tell you the truth, I think I shall com

say farewell

ot do that!"

hen she added more gently, without knowing what

m go

ed. He was thin

he name: "but really he is too much in our way. Couldn't you g

magine a man like that would consent to travel? There is only one journey, that from which

which was broken by

h an accident and died, and I becam

nswered There

e smothered it with kisses, and bursting into sobs,

remain here. Give me courage rather. Tell me we shall see one another again. You have

come back to-morr

he answered. "I have tol

er hands an

tell Camille you are my sweetheart, and return here. I am trembling f

ncts of the young

ust not behave like children. A

re to die," slowl

nd have nothing more to fear. What

e pale, and she looked at her sweetheart with

rmured at last. "Only it is da

did no

ed, "all the methods t

in peace. I was thinking that accidents happen daily, that a foot may slip, a

ce. Then he smiled, and a

nable to come here, I will arrange matters. Should we remain a few months without seeing

door to leave, he se

ontinued. "You swear to belong to

ng woman. "I am yours, d

self roughly away, and, without turning her head, quitted the garret and w

ll warm. Without closing the window, he lay on his back, his arms bare, his hands open, exposed to the

not occurred to him. He had spoken of the death of this man, urged to do so by the facts, irritated at the thought that he wo

, blurted out in despair between a couple of kisses, returned implacable and keen. Racked by insomnia, and unn

ing in a garret. This idea exasperated him. On the other hand, if Camille were dead, he would marry Therese, he would inherit from Madame Raquin, resign his clerkship, and saunter about in the sun. Then, he took pleasure in dreaming of this

he could not return. He would have eloped with her, carried her off somewhere, but then both would die of hunger. He risked less in killing the husband. There would be no scandal. H

losed eyelids. He asked himself how he would kill Camille. Then, unable to breathe any more, he turned round at a bound to resume his position on his back, and with his eyes wide

ould be accomplished without danger; a sort of sinister suffocation, without cries and without terror, a simple disappearance. Passion might well stir him, and urge him f

and uncertain torpor. As he fell asleep, he decided he would await a favourable opportunit

l him, I wi

was at rest, breathing

It seemed to her that she had just come downstairs from her visit to Laurent, so full were her ears of the words she had recently heard. She found Madame Raquin and

ce. Camille soon fell asleep, and for a long time Therese watched his wan face reposing idiotically on the pillow, with