You, behind your priests and your directors and your _prie-dieus_ and your missals--do you think that you deceive me, as you deceive others ?" Her antagonist's gray eyes sparkled for the first time, and she took a quick step forward, with one white hand half lifted in rebuke.
"You may speak as you will of me," said she.

"To me it is no more than the foolish paroquet that chatters in your ante-room.

But do not touch upon things which are sacred.

Ah, if you would but raise your own thoughts to such things--if you would but turn them inwards, and see, before it is too late, how vile and foul is this life which you have led! What might you not have done?
His soul was in your hands like clay for the potter.

If you had raised him up, if you had led him on the higher path, if you had brought out all that was noble and good within him, how your name would have been loved and blessed, from the chateau to the cottage! But no; you dragged him down; you wasted his youth; you drew him from his wife; you marred his manhood.