Far from remonstrating, Madame Claes, who had had leisure to sound the abyss into which they were about to fall together, took his hand and pressed it, smiling.
"Thank you," she said; "now I am sure of my power.

You sacrificed more than your life to me.

In future, be the sacrifices mine.

Though I have sold some of my diamonds, enough are left, with those my brother gave me, to get the necessary money for your experiments.

I intended those jewels for my daughters, but your glory shall sparkle in their stead; and, besides, you will some day replace them with other and finer diamonds." The joy that suddenly lighted her husband's face was like a death-knell to the wife: she saw, with anguish, that the man's passion was stronger than himself.