"These people are as silly as geese.

The mute despair of the old woman will certainly teach them nothing.

They will never have the least suspicion of the thing, for they are too far away from the truth.

Once the ordeal is over, we shall be at ease as to the consequences of our imprudence.
All will be well, you will see." When the guests arrived in the evening, Madame Raquin occupied her usual place, between the stove and table.

Therese and Laurent feigned to be in good spirits, concealing their shudders and awaiting, in anguish, the incident that was bound to occur.