Gaston Leroux

“ She was almost sure that she had recognized Élie, unless it was Siméon, unless it was Hubert, but it was certainly one of the Three Brothers, who, when they were not murdering people on the roads, spent their time frightening old women. Oh, the Vautrins had broad backs! Mme. Mûre shed tears over the decease of a poodle which met its death in a very curious way, one evening when it was barking too loudly at the heels of the Vautrins, who were preparing some trick. It suddenly ceased barking. Mme. Mûre went out into the yard and found her dog hanging from the rope of the well. ”

“ The wonderful gown lay spread at full length on the leaves of the dining-table; and each of the needlewomen took her seat. Two of them made the eyelets, another the raised spots, another finished a rosette, another worked at the scalloped edges and two assistant hands, working side by side, sewed on some old lace. Mme. Toussaint, that old gossip, supervised everything and worried everybody. Mme. Roubion, with her enormous head resting on her capacious bosom, had eyes for none but her guests. After the bar-room was closed, monsieur le maire arrived, accompanied by Mme. Jules, his spouse ”

“ What? . . . Where? . . . The Vautrins? . . . What's he talking about? . . . The man must be mad! . . . Where did you see them? . . ."
"At their own place!" gasped the doctor. "At their own place! . . . In their house! . . . "
"He's been dreaming! . . . He must have been dreaming! . . ."
The chemist and the notary were now as pale as the doctor. They did not believe him. They did not think that such a thing was possible ”

“ His father is anxious to make over his practice to him. He wants to see his son fixed up and married and settled behind his papers in the Rue de l'Écu before his death, for the old gentleman does not think that he has long to live."
"He's right there," declared the chemist. "You can't be too careful. One never knows who's going to live and who's going to die."
"They say the Saint Aubin boy is rich enough for two," said Mme. Valentin. ”

“ Everybody sat steeped in thought and one and all had the same thought: they would not be really easy in their minds until the Three Brothers were dead and buried. There was only one fear, that the President of the Republic might commute the sentence of one of them; and, after all, people had been known to escape from prison. You never could tell. . . .
Mme. Roubion made a fresh effort to dispel the figures of the Vautrins:
"You know Mlle. Madeleine Coriolis is to be married soon?" she said.
"Oh, nonsense!" said Mme. Valentin. "To whom?" ”