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Athalie came to Timéa to help her with the cap, which required to be fastened with pins on both sides. Athalie's hand trembled and she pricked Timéa's head with one of the pins. "Oh, you stupid creature!" cried Timéa, jerking her head aside. The same words, before the same man!
The hair was then dressed very high, so that Timéa required assistance. "You don't know how; Athalie will be so good." Timéa spoke quite simply, but the major shuddered at the pallor which overflowed Athalie's face at the words: he remembered how Athalie had once said to Timéa, "Come and put on my bridal veil!" And perhaps even she had not then thought what venom lay in the words.
Frau Sophie looked on with malicious joy from her corner, and said, "Didn't I say you would catch it when Athalie returned?" But Timéa looked straight into Athalie's flaming eyes, and repeated her "No!" "And why not?" screamed Athalie, whose voice was now like her mother's, while her eyes were exactly like her father's. "Because I am prettier thus," answered Timéa. "Who told you that?" "He."
The major dashed into the darkness, and returned in a moment with the evidence of the murder Athalie's bloody night-dress in his hand. Timéa hid her face in horror. The magistrate picked up the letter, put it in his pocket, and took possession of the proofs.
If Timéa had not caught her in her arms, she would have struck her head on the marble table behind her. The lovely, haughty face of the bride is whiter even than Timéa's; and Timéa, while she holds Athalie's head on her breast, thinks, "See how the beautiful wedding-dress lies in the dust!"
In the meantime, Madame la Comtesse had purchased the ruin of the Château Larouge, and during the period of her brother's deferred proposal was engaged in fitting it up as an abode for herself and him. On the very day it was finished, Monsieur Merode asked for Athalie's hand." "Oho!" said Cleek, with a strong rising inflection. "I think I begin to smell the toasting of the cheese.
Her mother gazed at him in silence and could not answer. She did not know. The captain opened the door of Athalie's room, and they all went in, Frau Sophie following half fainting; she knew the bed must be empty. Athalie was in bed and asleep. Her white night-dress was buttoned up to her neck, her hair fastened into an embroidered cap, her lovely hands lay on the quilt.
She took the comb from Athalie's hair and loosened the plaits with a skillful hand, and then again dressed the richly flowing chestnut locks for the night in a simple coil. She took out the earrings, and her head came so near to Athalie's that the latter could not help seeing the two contrasting faces in the mirror.
If Athalie's instilled poison had reached his heart, he would have kept to the idea of a murderous rush with a dagger in his hand from behind the picture, so as to kill the faithless wife amidst the hottest caresses of her lover. Athalie panted for Timéa's blood; but a husband's revenge seeks a different object he must have the man's life.
Timéa took the veil with stiffened fingers, and went toward Athalie. It was to be fastened to her hair with a golden arrow. Timéa's hand trembled, and the arrow was heavy: it would not go through the thick hair. At an impatient movement of Athalie's its blunt point pricked the lovely bride's head slightly. "You are too stupid for anything!" cried Athalie, angrily, and struck Timéa on the hand.
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