She caught him in her arms, as though she feared to see him disappear down the black hole, and, in a trembling voice, whispered:

“Never!⁠ ⁠… I will not have you go there!⁠ ⁠… Besides, it’s not mine⁠ ⁠… everything that is underground belongs to him! ”

Raoul looked her in the eyes and said roughly:

“So he lives down there, does he?”

“I never said so.⁠ ⁠… Who told you a thing like that? Come away! I sometimes wonder if you are quite sane, Raoul.⁠ ⁠… You always take things in such an impossible way.⁠ ⁠… Come along! Come!”

And she literally dragged him away, for he was obstinate and wanted to remain by the trapdoor; that hole attracted him.