d not invented the second story
to pacify me? She was certainly capable of it. I was enraged. I had
consented to the one wickedness, but not to the other. I resolved not
to lose sight of the little bastard, swearing that they shouldn't change
it; so I kept him all the evening on my knees, and to be all the more
sure, I tied my handkerchief about his waist. Ah! the plan had been well
laid. After supper, some one spoke of retiring, and then it turned out
that there were only two double-bedded rooms in the house. It seemed as
though it had been built expressly for the scheme. The innkeeper said
that the two nurses might sleep in one room, and Germain and myself in
the other. Do you understand, sir? Add to this, that during the evening
I had surprised looks of intelligence passing between my wife and
that rascally servant, and you can imagine how furious I was. It was
conscience that spoke; and I was trying to silence it. I knew very well
that I was doing wrong; and I almost wished myself dead. Why is it that
women can turn an honest man's conscience about like a weather-cock with
their wheedling?"

M. Daburon's only reply was a heavy blow of his fist on the table.

Lerouge proceeded more quickly.

"As for me, I upset that arrangement, pretending to be too jealous to
leave my wife a minute. They were obliged to give way to me. The other
nurse went up to bed first. Claudine and I followed soon afterwards. My
wife undressed and got into bed with our son and the little bastard. I
did not undress. Under the pretext that I should be in the way of the
children, I installed myself in a chair near the bed, determined not to
shut my eyes, and to keep close watch. I put out the candle, in order to
let the women sleep, though I could not think of doing so myself; and I
thought of my father, and of what he would say, if he ever heard of my
behaviour. Towards midnight, I heard Claudine moving. I held my breath.
She was getting out of bed. Was she going to change the children? Now,
I knew that she was not; then, I felt sure that she was. I was beside
myself, and seizing her by the arm, I commenced to beat her roughly,
giving free vent to all that I had on my heart. I spoke in a loud voice,
the same as when I am on board ship in a storm; I swore like a fiend, I
raised a frightful disturbance. The other nurse cried out as though she
were being murdered. At this uproar, Germain rushed in with a lighted
candle. The sight of him finished me