"There's only one way to play it." "If I were him, I'd knock the jack off." "If you could." "Terrific!" "Just as I said." "You could've been the best." "Where's Thérèse?" "Nothing interests her." "She's still looking at the Rhône." "What are you doing?" "Nothing." "And "nothing" is more exciting than the game?" "It's always the same." "And the Rhône is always different?" "You'll catch cold." "Let's go home." " As you wish." " Tie up your scarf." "My poor Camille, if Thérèse were the only one taking care of you..." " l can do it myself." " Don't." "I told you you'd feel bad." "There was a draft in the tram." "But I'm okay." "A cold for you is like bronchitis for others." "Sit down." "It only figures... when your head's in the clouds." "Thérèse." "The hot-water bottle." "I'm boiling the water." "Hear that?" "That's the difference between a wife and a mother." "If it were me, the water would be boiling already." "Put on your pyjamas and go to bed." "I'll go and get that bottle." "So is the bottle coming?" " One minute." " Let me do it." "You'll say it's not your fault." " lt was nice out." " There were clouds." "It can suddenly get cold, you should know that." " l suggested going to the movies." " Great." "To breathe in germs and watch couples kiss?" "There are enough of them on the street." "And those pictures are bad for you." "You dream too much." "There's nothing romantic in love." "Actually, love consists in taking good care of your husband." "Put it against his feet." "Not on his belly." "It would hurt his liver." "How do you feel?" "Mother worries too much." "Listening to her, I'll spend my life in bed." "There." "Do you need anything else?" "No, I was already going to sleep." "It's so good to sleep." "And it doesn't cost anything." "Sleep well, then." "For Malabert." "Six cases." " lt's urgent." " ls your waybill signed?" "Here, six cases." "I asked if your paper was signed by the supervisor." "is it for Malabert, yes or no?" "Whoever it's for, it has to go through the office." " Where's the supervisor?" " He's out. i'm filling in." "Well, then, look at my waybill." "It's in order, isn't it?" "Not here, in the office." "The rules are for everybody, even foreigners." "You don't like foreigners?" "The supervisor doesn't like their faces, it seems." "That's not the issue." "But if you go through without stopping by the office, you'll be sorry." "Hey, buddy, wake up." "We're here." " Where?" " Your place." "You have to get out." "So, are you getting out?" "Laurent, I think I've lost my legs." "Let me help you." "This is bad." "I forgot my legs at the café." "Don't worry." "We'll find them again." " Let go. I'll catch you." " l can't, Laurent." " My head." " You lost your head too?" "No, but it's spinning, spinning." "He's in a fine state, this supervisor." "A registered package for Raquin." " An accident?" " Yes." "A few drops too many." " But Camille never drinks." " Precisely." "We had a little argument, but no offence meant." "I didn't want to leave it at that." "We made up." ""l'll buy you a drink." "l'll buy you another."" "So I'm bringing him back to you." "He just needs to sleep it off." "Where can I set him down?" "His room is upstairs." " Let me help you." " No need to." "He weighs nothing." "Are you his sister?" "Excuse me." "Will you..." "Will you show me the way, please?" "This way." "The weight is nothing but he's too long." " l'm awfully sorry." " Don't worry." " Where's his room?" " This way." "You should let him sit a while before putting him to bed." "Put some fresh water on his face." "Laurent!" "Don't leave me!" "Don't worry." "I'm here looking after you." "That's good." "Thank you, Laurent." "Oh, it's you." "Laurent is my friend, my brother." "I had a brother and didn't know it." " She's Thérèse." " Quiet, Camille." "Laurent, where are you?" "I'm here." "But keep quiet." "Sleep." "I will if you come next Thursday." "I promise." "All right, then." "I'll keep quiet." "Ten times he asked me to come next Thursday." "What happens on Thursdays?" "Mrs. Raquin has her friends over." "He's going to sleep now." "Leave now, please." "I'm ashamed." "Just over a bit too much to drink?" "People meet as they can." "The important thing is to meet, isn't it?" "Four and three, I jump across." "Now it's time for me to try it." "Hey, the dice didn't roll." " Didn't they, Mum?" " l protest." "Mr Grivet, my Camille never cheats." " But you do." " Me?" "If Camille is supposed to win all the races, I might as well give him my 40 sous up front." " Are you playing or paying?" " l'm playing!" "And I do roll the dice." "Three and two." "Three and two don't make six!" "Sorry, my mistake." "One and two." "Mr Michaud, your jockey would be faster on a bike." " Your turn, Laurent." " l only went to the real races once." "It was at Turin with my father." "He was an expert." "All week long, he'd prepare his bets." "But he lost every race." "I was eight. I told him, "Play number four."" "He refused." "It wasn't scientific." "But he finally bought a ticket for me, and number four won." "You should've seen it." "I thought I'd won the horse." "But they refused to give it to me." "That was my deepest grief as a kid." "If we start telling childhood memories, we'll never get anywhere." "Play." "Five and four." "27, broken leg." "You're through, and you pay 20 sous." "Open the bottle Mr Laurent brought." "Camille is about to win." "Let me help you." "I'm through." "On long distances, Mr Grivet, you're worthless." " Three and two." " My turn." " Double five." " You roll doubles every time." "I'm allowed to do as I choose." " Some aren't very sportsmanlike indeed." " l wonder who she's alluding to." "So you're beaten?" "It seems my horse has broken a leg." "You never play?" "No." "They say I'm not passionate enough." "Do they always argue like that?" "Every Thursday for the last 1 7 years." " Here." " Thank you." "Four and five. I win!" "Thérèse, the wine." "Camille's won." "I wouldn't be so proud of such a victory." "My horse doesn't like muddy soil." "Camille just keeps getting better." "I can't jump, but I can run faster." "The best performance in steeple was mine." "To the winner." "To the wife of the winner." " Laurent isn't eating?" " He left yesterday on a trip." " His truck's here." " Maybe so, but I haven't seen him." " What will you have?" " Red wine." " Hello?" " Half bottle of the usual." "Just a minute." "Who you looking for?" "Who's calling?" " ls Laurent here?" " His truck's here." "He must be home." "Hang on. I'll call him." "Laurent!" "Telephone!" "Malabert's calling for you!" "Laurent, are you there?" "Laurent, you there?" "Upstairs, anyone home?" "My mother-in-law." "Here we are." "We've met twice." "That isn't much." "But in a certain way, it is enough, isn't it?" "I own nothing, except my truck." "When I'm bored with one town, I go to another." "But there's nobody in my life." "There is in yours." "There's Camille." "He weighs nothing, but he's there." "So give me your hand, and we'll go wherever you like." "France, Italy, anywhere." "Another man might become Camille's friend." "On Thursdays, we'd play horses." "On Sundays, we'd go out together." "And then one day..." "Thérèse, if you hesitate, everybody will be very unhappy." "I've thought about it over and over, believe me." "It would be better to leave at once, without a word of discussion." "To leave, without knowing where?" "Without a word, like thieves?" "That's the only way, Thérèse." "We have to make a clean cut." "That's the least painful." "Are you afraid?" "Afraid?" "Not at all." "But I admire you." "You're strong and free." "You think only of yourself." "What you want, you need at once without delay." "Perhaps you prefer your security, your small life where nothing happens." "It's funny." "I thought you'd accept right away." "And what if I were holding back with all of my strength?" "What if I wanted you too?" "You don't know what it is for a girl to think about a man, a real man, all the time." "To the point that you forget what you're doing, where you're going." "And suddenly, you wake up, you look around," "and nothing's changed." "If a girl loves a man, if she trusts him," "it's easy for her to leave with him." "Easy." "My aunt took pity on me when my parents died." "So much pity that she forced you to marry her son." "I lived in his house, I was already his cousin." "I became his wife without it changing much." "And you don't think it's monstrous?" "I nursed Camille when he was ill." "Why should I have saved his life if I kill him now by leaving?" "You prefer to ruin your life?" "Four and three." " l jumped across the river." " Not so fast." "You fell in." "I was on 47." "47 plus seven makes 54." "You were on 46, here." "46 plus seven means into the river." "Mum, 46 or 47?" " Camille's right." " With you, he's always right." "But the river's for everybody." "And Camille cheated." "Mr Grivet, if you weren't a friend of 30 years..." "Come, come." "Don't get carried away." "Let's ask for Mr Laurent's impartial arbitration." "Excuse me, I wasn't paying attention." "Let me explain." "I was on 47, here." " My word of honour." " He was on 46, there. I swear it." "Thérèse, get us some vervein to calm them down." " Let's play it again." " That would be too easy." "First of all, before you were on 46, you were on 39." "And you rolled a five and a two." "Mrs Raquin, do I lie?" "I think Mr Grivet is right." "Since everyone's against me, my horse gives up." "But if you go on only half rolling the dice..." "Think I'm not playing honestly?" "See for yourself." "Twelve." "I win!" "I win!" "Let's not dwell on your methods." "It's early yet." " How about a rematch?" " You'll be sorry." "You'll have to go on without me." "Sorry, but I'm leaving tomorrow at dawn." "You told me." "I won't insist." "Please don't take the trouble." "You'll miss the start." "Good night, everybody." "May the best man win." "I'm sure I will." "Good night." "Night." "You know the way." "I've got to keep an eye on Mr Grivet, or he'll start with a double six." "Couldn't we play just one game without unpleasant insinuations?" "Mrs Raquin, you haven't rolled your dice." "You didn't expect me to come?" "I couldn't come the other days." "Since I never go out, I had to find an excuse." "A toothache." "I pretended to suffer badly." "Not very clever, but I don't know how to lie yet." "Don't say anything." "You're here." "That's all that matters." "When you saw me, you went pale." "I couldn't take it any longer." "I've been waiting for you every day since last week." "Every day." "Thérèse, if you'd wanted... lt's big in here." "Because it's empty." "But on Sundays and holidays, it's full of boys and girls who enjoy each other, like you and me, dancing all night long." " You're pretty like that." " Thank you." " So you come here sometimes?" " l used to." "Do you like to dance?" "Dance?" "I never learned." "I only know how to do sad things." "To mend, look after people, count money." "You're not made for doing sad things." "You're strong and beautiful." "Your body was made for dancing for loving." "You can't go on living like that, Thérèse, behind a cashier's counter or in a sick man's bed." "It's worse than death." "You're right." "It's worse than death." "But I didn't know it." "I was untroubled." "When we're together, I forget that." "But we're never together." "This here doesn't count." "You should've listened to me." "We should have left." "That wasn't possible." "Gratitude, pity, they're chains, you know." "What will become of us both?" "We can't do without each other." "That's impossible." "I want you too much, Thérèse." "I, too, want to be with you." "Listen, Laurent." "There's a way, if you want it." "A way?" "Finding a perfect match isn't so simple, madam." "It takes not five minutes, but 30 years of experience!" "Your daughter-in-law said she'd find it easily." "She knows nothing!" "If sitting behind a counter were enough to learn this trade..." "This might do." "How much do you want?" "Four feet." " ls your daughter-in-law out?" " She has a headache." "Nowadays, for a headache, you lie down." "And for a toothache, you go to the dentist's." "Are you sure no one will come upstairs?" " Are you afraid?" " No, but I feel uneasy here, in his room." " lt's my room and my bed." " l hate hiding." "Thérèse, I want us to be free, to sleep together, to eat together, to go out together." "You want everything." "Like those who've always been happy." "I'd like all that someday too." "I really would." "But, before you, life never gave me anything." "Always at your service, madam." "Whenever you come, ask Thérèse to call me." "It'd be better." "Mister Kitty, what are you doing here?" "Go back upstairs." "And hurry!" "You must stay with Thérèse." "She loves you so much!" "How many times must I tell you?" "It's forbidden to scratch Mrs Raquin's fabrics!" "Go tear up Thérèse's curtains, if she welcomes you." "How's your headache?" "I'm trying to sleep." "If you sleep now, you'll spend a sleepless night." "Here. I'm bringing Kitty back." "I'd like to be left alone." "All right." "I'm not in the habit of annoying people with my presence." "Did she go downstairs?" "Yes." "And I'm sorry she didn't come in." "She would've seen me, and she'd know." "And she would've told Camille." "So much the better!" "Anyway, he'll have to know." "The sooner, the better." "You don't know Camille." "He's a coward." "He'll cry and be sick." "His mum will nurse him." "After a while, he'll calm down." "I know him." "He won't be able to stand the truth." "And I can't stand lies!" "He's had you for six years." "That's enough." "It's over." "It's my turn now!" "What if he dies of it?" "I don't care." "Have you got common assets, you and him?" "My aunt put what I had into her business." "Let her keep it." "Maybe tomorrow I'll go see Camille." "Even if he flares up, promise me you'll stay calm." "I won't hurt him." "Don't worry." "And you, don't listen to them." "Think only of yourself, of me, of us." "Stick to it." "Meet me at the inn the day after tomorrow." " ls Thérèse here?" " Can't you say "good evening"?" " Evening." "Where is she?" " Upstairs." "What happened?" "Nothing." " What has she done?" " Nothing!" "Didn't you hear me come in?" "Know who I just saw?" "Know what he said?" "Mother should never have taken you in." "We should've seen it coming, knowing your parents." "But you're no longer Thérèse DuBois." "You're Mrs Camille Raquin!" "The law requires that you obey and respect me." "Look at me!" "I demand that you look at me!" "A truck driver!" "What will I look like?" "And a foreigner on top of that." "Nobody knows where he's from!" "Thérèse, tell me it's not serious." "You can't forget all we've spent on your education and the rest." "Want a slap in the face?" "If you go, what will become of me?" "Thérèse, we were so happy!" "I wasn't happy." "You!" "You!" "Are you the only one who counts?" "If I killed you, I'd be set free." "And I'd have the right to kill him too." "Tell me you still love me a little." "You see, you need not go away." "I'm going to bed." "It won't be long before I'm dead." "I'm already cold." " l prefer your anger to this blackmail." " What blackmail?" "Without you, I'd be dead." "When I was a kid, I refused my medications." "And for years, you drank them too to force me to swallow them." "I don't hold it against you, but you should've let me die instead." "Stop talking about your death!" "What do you want me to talk about when you're trying to kill me?" "A sudden passion like that can't be called love." "It's a seizure!" "I have an idea." "Let's go to Paris for a few days." "I'll get free permits." "We'll stay at Aunt Harriet's and save money for the theatre, luxuries." "My poor Camille, three days in Chatou won't change a thing." "I'm sure it will." "You can't deny me one little chance." "Or else I'll drown myself!" "You'd threaten me again when back." "On my mother's head, I swear I won't." "And afterwards, if you still want to leave... I'll ask you to give me three days, no more." "Thank you, Thérèse." "We'll leave tomorrow." "That's Mother." "Don't say anything." "Well, children, aren't we eating today?" "We were waiting for you." "I'm not one to ask questions... but your silence surprises me." "We're leaving for Paris tomorrow." "To please Thérèse, I gather?" "When I, your mother, feel weak, and my old legs are in a bad state?" "I can say nothing, but something very serious has happened." "None of my business, of course, but seeing those two together, I think we've been unwise." "A girl who owes everything to us!" "It's no concern of mine, but you're too lenient with her." "Too lenient?" "Know what I'm going to do?" "I'll take her to Aunt Harriet's and shut her in!" "No letters, no telephone." "And not a penny!" "She's going to learn what a husband is!" "What?" "Speak louder." "There's a wedding here." "I can't shout." "I'm calling from the store." "From the store?" "What happened?" "I'm stuck here." "Camille asked me to go away with him for three days." "After that, I'll be free." "Where is he taking you?" "Talk a little louder." "To Paris." "We're leaving tonight by train." "Tonight?" "For Paris?" " But why?" " He hopes to soften me up." "To soften me up!" "But I'll try to make him admit, as soon as he's away from his mother..." "Listen, I can't hear or understand a thing!" " Shall I come at once?" " No." "Let me manage." "Just say you trust me." "Agreed, Mr Legris." "I'll have it ready for you." " lt was Mr Legris." " Why are you lying?" "I didn't ask." "Go pack up." "I'll stay in the shop." "Phatform one, trahn arrhvhng from Marsehhhes, Avhgnon, Vahence." "Conthnuhng to Macon, Chahon-Sur-Saône," "Dhjon, Parhs." "Ten mhnute stop." "Lyons Perrache." "We'll be all right here." "You'll be able to lie down, like in a sleeping car." "Help me." "Want the corner?" "Yes." "Sit there." "You'll be more comfortable." "Sorry." "The suitcase is heavy. I'm tired." "What is it?" "It's too stuffy in here." "I'll be in the passage." "Don't worry." "Sleep." " What are you doing here?" " l was suspicious of this little trip." "I couldn't refuse." "He wanted to kill himself." "When you get back, he'll invent something else." "He promised." "I'm through with his oaths and threats." "We both get off at Chalon." "We go back for the truck and clear out." "He'll never know what's become of you." "lmpossible, Laurent. I promised." "You shouldn't have." "He's got a plan, that's for sure." "First, all kind manners." "Then if that fails, violence." "What if something happened to you?" " l hoped he'd understand." " He'll never understand!" "When I went to see him, he offered me money to clear out." "Then the threats." "Said he'd have my work card taken from me." "As I promised, I stayed calm." "But for everyone concerned, believe me, it's best that we get off at Chalon." "You ought to be ashamed!" "I didn't know that Laurent..." "Laurent can do what he wants." "For you, it's different." "Let Thérèse alone!" " Touch me and I'll set off the alarm!" " l warned you. lt's over." " We're getting off at Chalon." " So that's what you've planned!" "Then the three of us will get off." "The law's on my side." "We've been patient." "But it's lasted long enough." "Long enough?" "That's what you say." "I married Thérèse for life." "She's mine, and I'll keep her." "It's my right!" "She doesn't love you anymore!" "She's never loved you!" "Let her pretend!" "That's enough for me!" "Poor bum." "The law's on my side!" "I'll find you wherever you go, with the help of the police!" "Are you trying to push me over the edge?" " You'll never have her!" " Will you shut up?" "You're all the same." "We take you in and feed you." "And you take advantage of it to do your dirty tricks!" "Since you refuse to shut up, I'll shut your trap for you!" "What will we do?" "We'll soon be at Chalon." "I'll get off alone." "That's it." "I'll tell them." "What about me, and us?" "Listen." "Get off at Chalon." "But don't say anything." "No one will ever know where you got on, where you got off." "Hurry back to Lyons." "Alone, I have a chance." "My poor Thérèse, what kind of a chance do you think you'll have?" "How careless of them!" "Tickets, please." "Tickets, please." "Where are we?" "We've passed Chalon." "My husband has the tickets." "He's in the passage." "No one's there." "When did he leave?" "I don't know." "I hardly heard him get up." "I was sleeping." "Seen anything, sailor?" "Me?" "No." "I was sleeping, like the lady." "Sometimes passengers lose their way." "You should go and see." "You found the door open after Chalon?" "Ten minutes after we left." "There's going to be hell to pay." "Perhaps someone got off at Chalon." "Maybe your husband." "He had no reason to get off there." "Get me Chalon." "Before jumping to any conclusions, remember that passengers sometimes get off like that, on an impulse." "Dijon here." "Well, it's about an open door and a missing passenger." "Alert your crews." "We don't know." "A little before or after Chalon." "You'll call me back?" "Thanks." "No one noticed your husband when he left?" "There was only a sailor." "Asleep too." "He saw nothing." "We'll soon know if..." "Stick around here in case the police have any questions for you." "He didn't fall." "He was pushed out." "Who did it?" "Who killed him?" "I don't know." "I told you, I was asleep." "horribly MANGLED CORPSE OF LYONS TRADESMAN" "FOUND ON railway outside CHALON" "In FACT, this CLOSE COUPLE, WHO RUN A fabric SHOP in LYON," "HAD JUST decided TO SPEND SEVERAL DAYS in paris." "Kill himself?" "Camille?" "When he was running 99.6 degrees, he'd go to bed." "At 99.8, he'd send for the doctor." "He spent his life refusing to die." "To think that Camille was murdered is funnier still." "I mean, it's more stupid!" "Murdered!" "By whom?" "Why?" "Why has the doctor been so long with Mrs Raquin?" "I don't know." "Laurent, it's Thérèse." "My poor girl, I'm sincerely upset." " lt's terrible." " Thank you, Mr Michaud." "Grivet sends his apologies." "He can't leave the office." "He'll come as soon as possible." " And my aunt?" " Mr Grivet and I told her." "When she saw us come in on Sunday, she knew right away something had happened." "We were looking for the right words, and she guessed it." "She's the one who said, "Camille is dead."" "We were startled." "She opened her eyes and her mouth, and fell down." "A stroke." "The doctor is with her." "And you?" "is it true that the police dared to..." " lt's normal." " You should've phoned Grivet." "With his post at the railway, he could have..." "The railway people have been nice." "But with the police, it was hard." "My deepest sympathies, madam." "Well, Doctor?" "Total paralysis." "She can live many years like that." "She's lucid." "She can see and hear, but she cannot speak." "To remain like that or to be dead, which is more terrible?" "For the moment, at least, there's no immediate danger." "My friend, please don't get upset." "Thérèse is back." "Might she come in?" "Come, please." "Go and rest." "I'll stay with her." "Go on." "Don't come in!" "They questioned me for hours." "They're suspicious." "They can try, but they'll find nothing." "If we stop seeing each other." "I had to come here." "It would have seemed odd." "You did right." "But they're persistent." "It's not over." "And my aunt knows." "I've read it in her eyes." "Then wait until I call you." "One misstep and we're doomed." "Oh, it's you." "is Thérèse back home?" "Have you seen the papers?" "An examining magistrate has just been appointed." "The cops went to see my boss." "They went to my hotel too." "They showed your photo around to find out if we'd been seen together." "But nobody had seen you." "No one has ever seen us together." "Them, I wasn't afraid of them." ""Them"?" "So I'm the one you don't trust?" "How could you go 37 days without seeing me, without phoning me?" "They knew what they were doing when they lifted up that blanket." "Such a sight can never be forgotten." "I can't sleep anymore, can't eat without vomiting." "Facing such a horror makes you want to shout out the truth." "They knew it well." "You shouldn't have killed him." "From the start, Thérèse, I asked you to leave." "I haven't forgotten." "That's why I resisted them." "But whenever I think of you, I see that blanket and what was underneath." "I'll always blame you for it, and that's worse than parting." "You came to tell me that?" "The judge has summoned me for tomorrow." "I'm almost sure the case is closed." "If we're out of danger, you must leave Lyon, disappear." "Though we're out of danger?" "If you're spared, I'll have done all I can." "But I killed for you." "Doesn't that count?" "You shouldn't have." "Did you make one move to stop me?" " You killed him, not me!" " We both did, together." "You're as guilty as I am." "You're the one who opened the door, pushed him out and killed him!" "What's wrong with you?" "You're going crazy." "Yes. I think I am." "We did it to be free, Thérèse." "It was wrong to kill him." "He's heavier dead than alive." "Listen to me." "I love you." "He was between us." "I killed him." "I did it alone." "I take full responsibility." "You did nothing." "And I'd do it again." "You don't know what you're saying!" "You didn't see him!" "Don't touch me." "Don't ever touch me!" " Did anyone come by?" " A sales rep." "He'll be back." "A man phoned twice." "He didn't give his name." "He'll call back." " Did you see Mrs Raquin?" " Yes, but she frightens me." "She always seems to want something, but you can't tell what." " Shall I close up?" " l'll do it." "You can go home." " Did it go well with the judge?" " l answered his questions." " Some people say..." " l'm not interested." "I'll come back here any time you need me." "Thank you, dear." "Good night!" "Good night, Mrs Thérèse." "hs ht you?" "Why won't you answer me?" "h know you're hhstenhng." "Why won't you answer?" "At heast hhsten to me." "We can't part hhke thhs." "h want to tehh you that h hove you." "Do you hear me?" "h hove you." "Thérèse, h want to see you." "Thérèse, why won't you answer?" "It's too hot." "Wait a moment." "Can't you look at me differently?" "I wash and dress you, feed you." "Isn't that enough?" "You'd like to know, wouldn't you?" "I was sleeping." "I know nothing." "They can question me 1 00 times." "I don't know. I was sleeping." "Nobody believes me." "But at least in your eyes, it's clear." "The others lower their eyes." "But they all think the same thing!" "If the horrid Mrs Madou or the fat Mrs Chardon lost their husbands, no one would accuse them!" "Only I'm young." "I'm alive." "So all of a sudden they all realize that Camille and I weren't a good match." "Suddenly they're all sure it was going to end up badly." "And yet, on our wedding day, they cheered Camille and his good mother." "What a celebration!" "Little Thérèse going to warm up Camille's bed." "On that day, who said it would end up badly?" "That is was bound to end up badly?" "You can look at me." "Who wanted that marriage?" "Who was intent on finding a pretty nurse for Camille?" "An obliging one?" "And if evil has come of it, whose fault is that?" "And if Camille was killed, who decided that?" "It wasn't on the train, surely." "But on that day when they played the wedding march, and you cried tears of joy!" "Here." "Eat." "Shut your eyes, or I won't be able to take care of you any longer." "Who's there?" " Who is it?" " Police!" "Open up!" "I thought the police left people alone at night." "Honestly, do I look like I'm from the police?" "Why would they bother you?" " Who are you, then?" " A traveller." "I've taken long voyages on a boat and short journeys on a train." "You see things when you travel." " Now I recognise you." " Very clever, aren't you?" "And the lady, is she the mummy?" " What do you want?" " To have a chat." "When you've travelled together, it's interesting to compare your impressions, isn't it?" "This way." " Come in." " Allow me." "I just got in from Paris and haven't eaten." "Your composure doesn't impress me." "You're wasting your time." "My time isn't worth much." "As for my composure, as you call it, I went to war in Japan." "I've been in forests where the others hid in the trees." "You take a slow step, just waiting for the machine guns to fire." "If you're lucky enough not to die, you take another step and wait again." "You learn to keep your cool." "And all day long, I sell to people who don't know what they want." "That's another way of learning to keep your composure." "What do you want?" "Well, you know... I'm not that greedy." "I've got a business in view." "Second-hand bikes." "But I need a little capital." "Get it?" "I don't know if you've been to war in Japan, but I know you're a little crook." "Needing money isn't any worse than killing your husband." "I didn't kill my husband." "OK, that's no job for a woman." "But an obliging passenger might have lent you a helping hand." "He died while I was sleeping." "You weren't sleeping the whole time." "You left the compartment before your husband." "You came back after a while." "But he never came back." "Not putting on airs anymore?" "When a pal of mine got shot in the belly, he looked like you, mouth open, eyes surprised." "He knew he was done for." "Very juicy plums!" "You're lucky. I've seen ships sunk, towns burned, pals killed, so what's one corpse more or less to me?" "But what I care about is selling second-hand bikes." "For that, I need 500,000 francs." "Have you got it?" "Too bad." "And the other?" "That passenger who was so devoted, so obliging?" "It was an accident, and you saw nothing." "You were asleep." "Your statement's in the file." "Now go away." "OK, for tonight." "But in my opinion, the other will advise you to be more understanding." "The door is on the left." "If you dare come back..." "You'll warn the police?" "Good night." "Six wounds and tortured by the enemy." "Who will they believe?" "You?" "Or the brave little soldier?" "It's above the courtyard, but it's calmer here." "Ring for hot water in the morning." "is it all right?" " Shall I turn down the bed?" " lf you like." " ls one pillow enough?" " For tonight, yes." "It's 50 francs extra if you have guests." "The bathroom's at the end of the hall." "Free of charge?" " You like making jokes." " Sometimes, yes." "But seldom." " What's your name?" " Georgette." "How do you say that when you're in love?" "You teasing me to avoid paying the 50 francs?" "I'm not rich, but here, take this." "Tonight, I want to be kind." "Very kind, without any reason." "You're giving me 1 00 francs for nothing?" "Exactly." "For nothing." "Good night. I'm dog tired." "All right. lt's over." "I went too far." "But I've been under pressure too." "You don't realise." "I thought that since you no longer loved me..." "You fool." "Silly old fool." "How much does he want?" "500,000." "What does he look like?" "Sneering." "With the eyes of a cat looking at a bird." "Even if we found the money he'd ask for more." "Of course." "And all our life, he'd bother us." " You said, "all our life?" - l did." "Isn't it funny?" "He comes to destroy us." "And he brings us together." "I've been terribly anxious since last night." "I longed to see you." "But I didn't dare after what I'd said." "Then, suddenly, I made up my mind." "I don't want you to be caught, Laurent." "I love you." "is that true?" "is it really true?" "That's what you should've said at first." "That's what will make me fight." "We're together, aren't we?" "Let's not lose one minute." "We'll show that sailor." "I'll take you with me." "Just as you are." "Like I asked you to the very first day." "We'll go to Italy tonight." "Let that little bastard try to find us there." "If anybody comes in, I'm in the cellar." "Call me if you need me." "That's him." "Come on." "Going on a trip?" "Without paying the bill, you won't get far." "You're not built for this business." "Of course there are risks." "But by following the lady, I was sure to reach you." "Let's sort this out." "If you've got time to waste." "Only two glasses." "And the bottle's empty." "Don't play the wise guy." "Your scheme isn't worth a thing." "She and I have no money." "So what good would it do you to expose us?" "None." "And it'd be unpleasant to me." "I figured it out as soon as I read the papers." "And I didn't move until my pal told me about the bike business." "I've wanted to be my own boss for so long." "I'm not blackmailing you." "Just asking for a little help." "I'm a truck driver." "I don't have one franc." "And the lady?" "She owns a store, furniture." "Perfect love is worth a small sacrifice." "Please." "He's a violent one." "He's dying to strangle me, to throw me out of the train, like the other." "But it's a bad plan, there's always a witness." "And witnesses are like everything else, too expensive for the little guy." "Anyway, I need dough right away." "What will it be?" "Slaps." "What does that mean when we've got serious business?" "The 500,000 francs are most urgent." "And no increase in spite of your bad behaviour." "So what will it be?" "He's stubborn and a bit stupid." "I warn you, I know how to box." "If you go on, I'll protect myself." "And you'll regret it, believe me." "You know, on the front line, I learned everything that could be invented to get out of a tight spot." "You see, war can be useful after all." "Some youth we had!" "It's really been trampled." "But they've made a fool of me long enough." "For once I've got hold of somebody, and it's his turn to sort it out." "You won't get a dime." "We'll see." "I'll phone the lady next Friday for a date with the dough." "Or else the examining magistrate will be congratulated on his successful investigation." "Don't try to fly away. I'm here in Lyons to take care of you exclusively." "Fly away and one hour later... lf love has wings" "so do the police." "Don't forget." "Next Friday." "It's me, my poor friend." "I'm not disturbing you, I hope?" "How are you?" "Sorry, I'm used to asking." "You feel better?" "You look rested." "It's a terrible ordeal." "But you'll overcome it." "I bring you some good news." "The girl told me Thérèse is out." "But I came upstairs to tell you at once." "My dear friend, the case is closed, filed." "It's been proven that Camille's death was accidental." "Besides, the open door was the railroad's responsibility." "They've admitted it." "And they're expecting a rightful subpoena." "This is where l step in." "I represent the railroad and I'm your friend." "A lawsuit is expensive and could last years." "And there are risks." "To defend itself, the company would plead doubt." "Thérèse's lawyer would attack with stories of other open doors." "Unpleasant for both parties." "A transaction is always better." "I understand the look in your eyes." "The life of a son, a husband, is priceless." "But if, for poor Camille's death," "Thérèse could receive a tidy little sum, and receive it at once..." "JUDGE JOULlN examining magistrate" "LAW COURTS LYONS (RHÔNE)" "Did you ring?" "To make your bed?" "To ask you for a favour." "The white shoes that we saw in that shop, do you still want them?" " You've got no money." " That might change." "Don't try to understand, you wouldn't." "Listen." "I entrust you with this letter." "If I'm not back at 5pm, you'll post it." "I can do it right now." "Listen carefully." "You post it at 5pm precisely if I'm not back here." "Say it back to me." "You'll buy me the white shoes, if I post this letter at 5pm precisely." "If... lf you're not back before." "That's fine." "This may have to be goodbye." "If you're not here at 5pm, it means you're gone?" "That's it." "Gone." "I was expecting you at 3pm." "Engine trouble." "My bike wouldn't start." "Go on up." "It's going to happen upstairs?" "I must tell you." "I'm not a kid." "He isn't either." "Because he's here?" "Go on up." "Of course." "So?" "Not very reassured, are you?" "And not so bold as the other day." "Sometimes you have to do unpleasant things." "But there's merit in doing them anyway, isn't there?" "Got the dough?" "When we parted the other day, I came to a decision right away." " To do away with you." " lt's becoming a habit." "Whose fault is that?" "But she forbid me." "Pardon me. lf l'd known that, I would have brought flowers." "Don't play the wise guy." "And don't push me too far." " Thérèse has received some money." " Good news at last." " About the amount you demanded." " l knew you'd haggle." "Let me talk!" "She doesn't want to keep that sum." " l don't need to explain why." " l'm not asking you to explain." "We don't want the money, but the certainty that we'll never see you again, ever!" "I give you my word." "Imagine that's not enough." "You've got hold of us." "Well, we, too, want to get hold of you up to here." "We want a paper that will keep you from coming back." "I see, a receipt with the motive." "He's not that stupid after all." "Agreed?" "Give him ink and paper." "We were bound to agree." "You're not a real criminal, and I'm not a real blackmailer." "Circumstances, you know." "Sit down." "You know, they were in a real hurry to teach me how to use a tommy gun... but there was no rush to teach me to use a pen." "Dictate." "Received from Mrs Thérèse Raquin... I almost made a blot!" "400,000 francs..." " Hey!" " That's all we have." "My poor boy, always a sucker." "For having withheld from the police..." ""Withheld," double H." "Forgive me." "Withheld from the police what I knew about the death the death of her husband." "There. lt would be best not to leave this paper lying about." "Sign it." "There." "But it's not stamped." "I'm risking a 200-franc fine on top of several years hard labour." "Let's see." "Easy now." "Show me the money." "Give it to him." "Count it." " Here." " Count it first." " lt embarrasses me." " Put it on the table then." "I've never had any luck, you see." "Kicks in the rear as a kid." "Gunshots as a youth." "This is my first encounter with lady luck." "I just couldn't pass it up." "Now that I've met her, I hope she won't desert me." "That's enough." "Scram!" "Don't complain." "A girl like her is still better than bargain bikes." "Well, that's that." "Thank you." "Sorry to walk backwards." "It's a habit." "Once, in Shanghai, a gentleman shot me in the back." "I've only got one space." "I'll turn it over to the first taker." "Better turn the engine over first." "Send for a doctor, quick!" "The letter." "The letter!" "What letter?" "The letter!" "What letter?" "What have you done?" "What have you done?" "Will you answer me?" "Answer me!" "Wait!" "Here's another one." "This one won't be delayed." "Go ahead." "I'm the lovers' courier."