Serge Panine -- Complete

as they disappeared with the lig

ne! Why did she think of this man? Had she the right to do so now? She no longer belonged to herself. Another, who was as kind to her as Serge was ungrateful, was her husband. She thought thus

in. Serge was uppermost; he possessed her. She was afraid. Would she never be able to bre

ention from the persecution she suffered. Her husband was about to take her away, to defend her. It was his duty, and she would help him with energy.

sympathetic communication. Mentally ca

last!" s

welcome, smiled. Jeanne,

eur; are we

ut as this surprise was decidedly

, Jeanne, de

" asked the youn

before the front door. Our coachman is driving round, and w

ll; we w

between her and Serge. Unfortunately, Cayrol had thwarted this effort of proud revolt. She was vexed with him. He, without knowin

oud of you. If you had heard my friends! It was a concert of congratulations: What a fortunate fellow that Cayrol is

ook her head haughtily. Cayrol continued,

ybody. There, our friend Prince Panine is very happy; he has married a wo

y, and gave her hus

" she crie

is stronger than I am, and I cannot hide my joy. You will see that I can be grateful.

ise?" asked Jeanne,

air. He was enjoying beforehand the plea

o Paris to spend our hone

l seemed unfortunate

w I leave my offices. My customers may say what th

A flash of joy lit up her face. T

re shall

know that the Prince and

re they were going;" interrupted

g to Switzerland. Well, w

artled deer when it he

there!" she

assistance. And when he saw that his wife and I were agreed, he commenced to laugh, and said: 'You wish it? I consent. Don't say anything more!' It is all very well to talk of love's sol

hom she loved would be useless. An invincible fatality ever brought her toward him whom she was seeking to avoid. And it was her husband who was aiding this inevitabl

by Jeanne's silenc

"You are just like the Prince wh

l's comparison was too direct. His

ited on seeing the effect

ourney? If so, I am w

s touched by this

d, softly, "I should

for having succeeded so badly. Let us remain in Paris. It does not m

r, and, with bea

Jeanne; and I have lo

l, very excitedly, put her cloak round her s

is there, we

troubled, d

her minute

iled cons

ago you were h

nd, and saw, in a sort of mist, this great fat man, with a protruding shirt-front, rolls of red flesh on his neck above his collar, long fat ears which only needed gold ear-rings, and his great hairy hands, on the finger of one o

you? You are crying!" exc

ears my name. Here I spent my youth, and here my father died. A thousand ti

rol, "and worthy of receiving you. It is there you will live

supplicating

s go,

his arms, but the young

ne!" she said

ed at her i

u are trembling

ied t

y did you not tell me sooner? I can understand things. Let us remain here for a few days, or as long

, but with an under

o him, and calmly ta

re ver

retorted Cayrol, smiling. "What do I a

to please me?" as

d Cayrol, warml

nely tomorrow when her daughter wil

hinking that he understo

could come every day and see us. I would be very

t you say, Jeanne! What, my dear? You wish me to return alone to Paris

nne looked at him as she had never l

idiculous for having be

th it," cried Cayrol; "on the contrary! B

lied Jeanne, mo

ayrol lost

condition that they are reasonable. You seem to be making fun of me! If I give way on such important points on the day

u forgotten what I told you when you made me an offe

Come, dear," said the banker in a resolute tone, "you take me for a child. I am not so simple

ng. Her face had changed its expre

make a saint lose patience. Come, ans

quite discouraged. Still she would not yield. She shuddered at the very idea of belonging to this man; she had nev

timent that she was hiding something from him, and the thought nearly choked him. And, with

ing to understand me. Forget that I am your husband; see in me only a friend and open you

ened, said,

to me like th

eturn their love, which is sometimes even unknown to him who is their hero. Then, suddenly, they have to return to a reality. They find themselves face to face with a husband who is not the expected Romeo, but who is a good man, devoted, l

e he tried to read the effect of his words on Jeanne's feat

n't ans

ed her to look at him. He saw that her face was covered wit

It is true then

understood the trap he had laid; her cheeks burned.

as sai

nker, violently. "I saw it in your look

him straight

!" she

n avowal!" exc

pretended kindness," interrupted Jeanne

ared. He muttered a fearful oath, a

h me. Speak, I insist, or-

screamed and tore h

said, "you fill

when the door opened, and Madame Desvarennes appeared, holding in her hand the letters which she had written for Cayrol to tak