brush as she passed, startled by the fury of her flight.
But Tantaine interrupted him with a low laugh, terrible to listen to.
"And why not?" said he. "Is it not better to kill than to be killed?"
Hortebise trembled from head to foot. He had no objection to extorting money by the basest threats, but he drew the line at murder.
"And suppose we were found out?" muttered he.
"Nonsense! How could we be discovered? Justice always looks for a motive; how, then could they bring it home to us? They could only find out that a young lady adored by De Breulh had thrown him over in order to marry Andre."
"Horrible!" murmured the doctor, much shocked.
"I daresay that it is horrible, and I have no wish to proceed to extremities. I only wish to speak of it as a remote possibility, and one that we may be compelled to adopt. I hate violence just as much as you do, and trust that it may not be necessary."
Just then the door opened, and Paul entered, a letter in his hand. He seemed in excellent spirits, and shook hands with both his visitors.