It was the ground of a quarrel, which began mildly but grew more and more embittered until it seemed as though the count's madness, lulled for a short time, was demanding its arrearages from the poor wife.
这是一场争吵的起因，争吵开始时很温和，但越来越激烈，直到伯爵的疯狂情绪暂时平息下来，似乎要向可怜的妻子索要欠款。