"
"Madame de Cintre is buried alive," cried Newman. "What are honor or
dishonor to her? The door of the tomb is at this moment closing behind
her."
"Yes, it's most awful," moaned Mrs. Bread.
"She has moved off, like her brother Valentin, to give me room to work.
It's as if it were done on purpose."
"Surely," said Mrs. Bread, apparently impressed by the ingenuity of this
reflection. She was silent for some moments; then she added, "And would
you bring my lady before the courts?"
"The courts care nothing for my lady," Newman replied. "If she has
committed a crime, she will be nothing for the courts but a wicked old
woman."
"And will they hang her, Sir?"
"That depends upon what she has done." And Newman eyed Mrs. Bread
intently.
"It would break up the family most terribly, sir!"
"It's time such a family should be broken up!" said Newman, with a
laugh.
"And me at my age out of place, sir!" sighed Mrs. Bread.
"Oh, I will take care of you! You shall come and live with me. You shall
be my housekeeper, or anything you like. I will pension you for life."
"Dear, dear, sir, you think of everything." And she seemed to fall
a-brooding.
Newman watched her a while, and then he said suddenly. "Ah, Mrs. Bread,
you are too fond of my lady!"
She looked at him as quickly.
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