Laurent, feeling himself giving way, leant on the back of a chair, while Michaud, who was himself moved to tears, pushed him towards Therese with the remark:
Laurent sentit qu'il fléchissait, il s'appuya sur le dossier d'une chaise. Michaud, qui, lui aussi, était ému aux larmes, le poussa vers Thérèse, en disant: