The Count of Monte Cristo

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woman, with an expression impossible to describe; 'I thought it was
for something else.'--'Woman, woman--why do you have such ideas?'
cried Caderousse; 'or, if you have them, why don't you keep them to
yourself?'--'Well,' said La Carconte, after a moment's pause, 'you are
not a man.'--'What do you mean?' added Caderousse.--'If you had been a
man, you would not have let him go from here.'--'Woman!'--'Or else
he should not have reached Beaucaire.'--'Woman!'--'The road takes a
turn--he is obliged to follow it--while alongside of the canal there is
a shorter road.'--'Woman!--you offend the good God. There--listen!' And
at this moment there was a tremendous peal of thunder, while the livid
lightning illumined the room, and the thunder, rolling away in the
distance, seemed to withdraw unwillingly from the cursed abode. 'Mercy!'
said Caderousse, crossing himself.

"At the same moment, and in the midst of the terrifying silence which
usually follows a clap of thunder, they heard a knocking at the door.
Caderousse and his wife started and looked aghast at each other. 'Who's