As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without, the agonised
cry of a woman. I rushed to the window, and throwing it up, peered
between the bars.
There, indeed, was a woman with dishevelled hair, holding her
hands over her heart as one distressed with running. She was
leaning against the corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at
the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden
with menace, "Monster, give me my child!"
She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried
the same words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her
hair and beat her breast, and abandoned herself to all the
violences of extravagant emotion. Finally, she threw herself
forward, and though I could not see her, I could hear the beating
of her n***d hands agains
