For that matter," said Toussaint, "it's true. We would be assassinated before we'd have time to say Boo!And then, since Monsieur doesn't sleep in the house. But don't be afraid, mademoiselle, I fasten the windows likeBastilles. Women alone ! I'm sure that's enough to make us shudder! Just imagine! To see men come into the roomat night and say Hush ! to you and set themselves about cutting your throat. It isn't so much the dying, peopledie, that's all right, we know very well that we have to die, but it is the horror of having such people touch yhaving such people touch you. And then their knives, they must cut badly ! 0 God !
Toussaint expresses a deep fear about the dangers that women face when left alone, highlighting the terror of potential violence from intruders. She vividly imagines the horror of men entering a room at night, threatening them quietly while they prepare to commit acts of brutality. This scenario captures her anxiety about safety and the vulnerability of women in such situations.
Her thoughts reflect a broader sentiment about the inevitability of death but emphasize the dread that comes from the brutality and violation associated with violent encounters. Toussaint’s words evoke a profound sense of vulnerability and the instinctive desire for protection from the horrors of the world, illustrating the underlying themes of fear and mortality in human existence.
