A box-opener, speaking to Sidonie, referred to Georges as "your husband," and the little woman beamed with delight.
"Your husband!" That simple phrase was enough to upset her and set in motion a multitude of evil currents in the depths of her heart.

As they passed through the corridors and the foyer, she watched Risler and Madame "Chorche" walking in front of them.

Claire's refinement of manner seemed to her to be vulgarized and annihilated by Risler's shuffling gait.

"How ugly he must make me look when we are walking together!" she said to herself.

And her heart beat fast as she thought what a charming, happy, admired couple they would have made, she and this Georges Fromont, whose arm was trembling beneath her own.
Thereupon, when the blue-lined carriage drove up to the door of the theatre, she began to reflect, for the first time, that, when all was said, Claire had stolen her place and that she would be justified in trying to recover it..