Yes, it's interesting that when la dame is introduced to the story, she is described as well respected in the town (where she spends the winter to escape Paris) because of the money she spends there. The narrator then goes on to describe her as seen as independent by the prejudiced townspeople and finishes " And, was she not married to a Jew?"
We see, as soon as the theft occurs, how very quick the crowd are to scream and to hate. "Quarante poings" and "Vingt bouches" .. they are not even described as human beings at this point, but body parts.
Le commisaire is less concerned about the victim of the attempted theft than "Le bon renom de la ville" et "le respect". He cares about the town's - and his own - reputation above all else.
As soon as la dame's refusal to press charges against le mendicant becomes clear, the crowd turn their hate upon her. So did they always resent and despise her, and hate her for having a Jewish husband, or are they frustrated because their desire for vengeance on the beggar has been thwarted? Are they just looking for someone to hate?
As I said on the prevous thread, the English version of the story does not read smoothly as a translation. It's useful as a dictionary; no more than that. So the last phrase took a little working out for me. Does it mean:
pursued by the jeers of the crowd from whose claws and fangs the small hand of a woman had just torn free some human flesh
Interested to hear others' opinions