“ ‘Close the door,’ said La Carconte; ‘I do not like open doors when it thunders.’

“ ‘Particularly when there is money in the house, eh?’ answered Caderousse, double-locking the door.

“He came into the room, went to the cupboard, took out the bag and pocketbook, and both began, for the third time, to count their gold and banknotes. I never saw such an expression of cupidity as the flickering lamp revealed in those two countenances. The woman, especially, was hideous; her usual feverish tremulousness was intensified, her countenance had become livid, and her eyes resembled burning coals.

“ ‘Why,’ she inquired in a hoarse voice, ‘did you invite him to sleep here tonight?’

“ ‘Why?’ said Caderousse with a shudder; ‘why, that he might not have the trouble of returning to Beaucaire.’

“ ‘Ah,’ responded the woman, with an expression impossible to describe; ‘I thought it was for something else.’