In another moment I had certainly taken him by the throat and squeezed the life out of his miserable carcase, had not Providence in its goodness intervened to save me.

The door, on which he had already laid his hand in terror, opened suddenly.

It admitted Simon, who, closing it; behind him, stood looking from one to the other of us in nervous doubt; divided between that respect for the priest which a training at the Sorbonne had instilled into him, and the rage which despair arouses in the weakest.
His presence, while it checked me in my purpose, seemed to give Father Antoine courage, for the priest stood his ground, and even turned to me a second time, his face dark with spite and disappointment.

'Good,' he said hoarsely.

'Destroy yourself if you will! I advise you to bar your door, for in an hour the guards will be here to fetch you to the question.' Simon cried out at the threat, so that I turned and looked at the lad.
His knees were shaking, his hair stood on end.
The priest saw his terror and his own opportunity.