"Ah, God! so such a
catastrophe was possible." Then, on being stricken herself, on
experiencing the horrible distress, on smarting from the sudden, gaping,
incurable wound of her bereavement, she had drawn nearer to that brother
in misfortune, treating him with a kindness which she showed to none
other. At times she would invite him to spend an evening with her, and
the pair of them would chat together, or more often remain silent, face
to face, sharing each other's woe. Later on she had profited by this
intimacy to obtain information from Morange respecting affairs at the
factory, of which her husband avoided speaking. It was more particularly
since she had suspected the latter of bad management, blunders and debts,
that she endeavored to turn the accountant into a confidant, even a spy,
who might aid her to secure as much control of the business as possible.
And this was why she was so anxious to return to the factory that day,
and profit by the opportunity to see Morange privately, persuaded as she
was that she would induce him to speak out in the absence of his
superiors.
She scarcely tarried to take off her gloves and her bonnet.
Pages:
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533