Tenacious as a leech, madame; and like a leech come hither to do a little work of purification." Her eyes, now kindling again as she recovered from her recent fears, sought Fortunio's shifty glance.

Garnache followed it and read what was in her mind.
"What Fortunio has done," said he, "he has done by your son's authority and sanction." "Marius ?" she inquired, and she was almost fearful lest she should hear that by her son he meant her stepson, and that Marius was dead.
"Yes, Marius," he answered her.

"I bent him to my will.

I threatened him that he and this fellow of his, this comrade in arms so worthy of his master, should be broken on the wheel together unless I were implicitly obeyed.

If they would save their lives, this was their chance.