You think she will not find out?
Then see: as I die I will shriek out so loud that she can hear me, and she will understand.

She will go mad, and give you over to the law.

And then--and then! Did you ever think what will become of your child, of your Zoe, if you go to the gallows?
That would be your legacy and your blessing to her--the death of a murderer; and she would be left alone with the woman that would hate you in death! Voila--do you not see ?" Jean Jacques saw.

The terrific logic of the thing smote him.

His wife hating him, himself on the scaffold, his little Zoe disgraced and dishonoured all her life; and himself out of it all, unable to help her, and bringing irremediable trouble on her! As a chemical clears a muddy liquid, leaving it pure and atomless, so there seemed to pass over Jean Jacques' face a thought like a revelation.
He took his hand from the lever.