"Madame Raquin is agitating her fingers.

She probably wants something." Therese could not reply.

Both she and Laurent had been following the exertion of the paralysed woman, and she was now looking at the hand of her aunt, which stood out wan in the raw light of the lamp, like an avenging hand that was about to speak.

The two murderers waited, breathless.
"Of course," said Grivet, "she wants something.

Oh! We thoroughly understand one another.