She grabbed his arm and pushed him down at the foot of the bed.

With perfect self-possession she whispered: "Stay there.

Don't move." She threw all his clothes that were lying about over him and covered them with a white petticoat she had taken off.

Without losing her calm, she lay down, half-naked, with her hair loose.
When Madame Raquin quietly opened the door and tiptoed to the bed the younger woman pretended to be asleep.

Laurent, under all the clothes was in a panic.
"Therese," asked the old lady with some concern, "are you all right, my dear ?" Therese, opening her eyes and yawning, answered that she had a terrible migraine.