She found herself struck dumb, and powerless to move.
Therese and Laurent rose from their chairs, terrified at this stroke, which had contorted the old mercer in less than five seconds.

When she became rigid, and fixed her supplicating eyes on them, they pressed her with questions in order to ascertain the cause of her suffering.

Unable to reply, she continued gazing at them in profound anguish.
They then understood that they had nothing but a corpse before them, a corpse half alive that could see and hear, but could not speak to them.
They were in despair at this attack.

At the bottom of their hearts, they cared little for the suffering of the paralysed woman.

They mourned over themselves, who in future would have to live alone, face to face.
From this day the life of the married couple became intolerable.