Laurent had a sort of attack, during which he spoke like one under the influence of hallucination, and the paralysed woman abruptly understood.
A frightful contraction passed over her face, and she experienced such a shock that Therese thought she was about to bound to her feet and shriek, but she fell backward, rigid as iron.

This shock was all the more terrible as it seemed to galvanise a corpse.

Sensibility which had for a moment returned, disappeared; the impotent woman remained more crushed and wan than before.

Her eyes, usually so gentle, had become dark and harsh, resembling pieces of metal.
Never had despair fallen more rigorously on a being.

The sinister truth, like a flash of flame, scorched the eyes of the paralysed woman and penetrated within her with the concussion of a shaft of lightning.