I snatched it up, and was about to strike, when the recollection of Marie dying of cold and starvation occurred to me.

I dashed the knife to the ground, and rushed from the house in a state bordering on insanity.

I went into that house an honest man, and left it a degraded scoundrel.

But I must finish.

When I reached the street, the two banknotes which I had taken from the packet seemed to burn me like coals of fire.