After the role of deliverer, that of martyr was not to be despised.

And she argued so well, and spoke with so much conviction, that her husband, surprised at first by the simplicity of her plan, which consisted in facing it out, at last detected in it a marvellous tactical scheme, and promised to conform to it with the greatest possible courage.
"And don't forget that it is I who am saving you," the old woman murmured in a coaxing tone.

"Will you be nice to me ?" They kissed each other and said good-night.

But neither of them slept; after a quarter of an hour had gone by, Pierre, who had been gazing at the round reflection of the night-lamp on the ceiling, turned, and in a faint whisper told his wife of an idea that had just occurred to him.
"Oh! no, no," Felicite murmured, with a shudder.

"That would be too cruel." "Well," he resumed, "but you want to spread consternation among the inhabitants! They would take me seriously, if what I told you should occur." Then perfecting his scheme, he cried: "We might employ Macquart.
That would be a means of getting rid of him." Felicite seemed to be struck with the idea.