It was by an effort that he had restrained himself from bursting in upon them when Marius had seized her.

The reflection that were he to do so all would irretrievably be ruined alone had stayed him.
Marius eyed the girl a moment, his face distorted by the rage that was in him.
"By God!" he swore, "if I cannot have your love, I'll give you cause enough to hate me." "Already have you done that most thoroughly," said she.

And Garnache cursed this pertness of hers which was serving to dare him on.
The next moment there broke from her a startled cry.

Marius had seized her again and was crushing her frail body in his arms.
"I shall kiss your lips before I go, ma mie," said he, his voice thick now with a passion that was not all of anger.

And then, while he still struggled to have his way with her, a pair of arms took him about the waist like hoops of steel.
In his surprise he let her free, and in that moment he was swung back and round and cast a good six paces down the room.
He came to a standstill by the table, at which he clutched to save himself from falling, and turned bewildered, furious eyes upon "Battista," by whom he now dimly realized that he had been assailed.
Garnache's senses had all left him in that moment when Valerie had cried out.