Thérèse could not find one human being, not one living being among these grotesque and sinister creatures… — Emile Zola
Thérèse could not find one human being, not one living being among these grotesque and sinister creatures, with whom she was shut up; sometimes she had hallucinations, she imagined herself buried at the bottom of a tomb, in company with mechanical corpses, who, when the strings were pulled, moved their heads, and agitated their legs and arms.
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In reality, one single thought tormented them: they were irritated at their crime, and in despair at having for ever troubled their lives.
Sometimes, forcing themselves to hope, they sought to resume the burning dreams of other days, and were quite astonished to find they had no imagination.
It was like a lightning flash of passion, swift and blinding in a leaden sky.
