Serge Panine -- Volume 01

porter in uniform, decorated with a military medal, stationed near the door. The visitor found himself in an anteroom which communicated with several corridors. A messenger was seated in the depth o

r rose, dropped his newspaper on the armchair, hastily raised h

e young man, in a friendly tone to

office; but she has been engaged for more than an ho

nd important air, which denoted how serious the discuss

w the anteroom full of people, "madame has kept all these w

though," murmure

d a moment,

ieur Mar

If you will allow me

unnec

he entered the office a

aren

prematurely bald forehead, and wrinkled brow, betokened a life of severe struggles and privations, or a life of excesses and pleasures. Still those clear and pur

put down his pen, and was making a movement toward his visit

Desvarennes is at liberty; but if I disturb you I will go and take

said, without reproaching you, it is more than three months since we have seen

e of papers off the desk

ini

that business is g

r and

ing mountain

Blanc; and then, we

n, whose face expressed doubt

The corn was damaged owing to defective stowage; the firm claimed compensation from the steamship company. The claim was

f a European state. Oh! you are happy here, you people; you are busy. I amuse myself! And

Monsieur Desvarennes allowed a

it only depends upon yourself to do a

t is not so," sighed Savinie

nnes say more than twenty times how she regretted your being unemployed

think that an organization like mine is made to bend to the trivialities of a copying clerk's work? To foll

haking his little head with its low forehead on which were plastered a few fair curls (made

mily who possesses any. She thinks of binding me down to a besotting work," continued he, "but I won't have it. I know what I want! It is independence of

ng slyly at young Desvarennes, who was drawing himself

energetically. "They w

possible! Then the Cen

rs by the novelty of my

Marechal, "if you began by

t think me serious. Aunt Desvarennes has forbidden any kind of enterprise, under pretence that I bear her name, and that I might compromise it because I have twice failed. My aunt paid, it is true. Do you t

rechal, simply, "to see you asto

n, "are in league with my enem

ste it on pleasure and seeing life to the utmost. He passed his time in theatres, at clubs, restaurants, in boudoirs. He lost his time, his money, his hair, his illusions. He bemoaned his lot, but continued, only to have something to do. With grim sarcasm he called himself the galley-slave

es; he had invented something astonishing; he saw fortune within reach, and he thought the barg

good ideas were hidden. He measured that slim form bent by wild living, and asked himself how that degenerate being could struggle against the difficulties of business. A

elf to be with difficulty induced to consent to renounce the certain profits promised, as he said, by his projected enterprise. At last he would capitulate, and with

s, suddenly and quickly changing the

med to have come across his brow; he

d be considerable as regarded Algeria. The climate would be completely changed, and the value of the colony would be increased tenfold, because it would become the most fertile country in the world. Pierre had been occupied in this undertaking for more

il smile, "that during his absence a dashing young

Marechal made a

upted; "and I do not und

e the bearer of such

could break her word

nd if any one

first comer; besides, I am only the echo of a rumor that has been going the round during the last three weeks. They even gi

ou that he has not put his foot inside Madame Desvarennes's door for three w

s little to me whether Micheline be a commoner or a princess, the wife of Delarue or of Panine. I shall be none the richer or the poorer, shall I? Therefore I ne

le de Cernay, that is

ech

fore, he spoke readily of Madame Desvarennes's adopted daughter. She had made a lively impression on one of th

ld on account of his hardness. This living money-bag had a heart then! It was necessary to believe it since both money-bag and heart had been placed at Mademoiselle de Cernay

e was mad! An unlooked-for marriage-for she had not a penny, and had most extravagant notions. She had been brought up as if she were to live always in velvet and silks-to loll in carriages

little girl who was called "De Cernay" just as he might call himself "Des Batignolles" if he pleased: the natural and unacknowledged daughter of a

ture. The fair Jeanne scorned Cayrol and Cayrol adored her. He had often seen those things happen. He knew the baggages

es had reason to fear that the superb heritage was going to the adopted daughter. Savinien had lost the fear, but had kept up t

fice, a confused murmur of voices was heard. At the same time the door was half opened, held by a woman's hand, square, with short fingers, a firm-willed and energetic hand. At the same time, the last words exchanged between Madam

ot the custom of the house. For thirty-five years I have conducted busi

es held closed, and a light step glided along the corrido

ound of his aunt's voice, for he had rapidly gained a corner of the room, and seated himse

bt me. And it has enraged me. I have been arguing for a whole hour with the man they sent me. I said to him, 'My dear sir, you may either take it or leave it. Let us start from this point: I can do without you and you cannot do without me. If you don't buy my flour, somebody else will. I am not at all troubl

r dark eyes only seemed the brighter from this. She had preserved her splendid teeth, and her smile had remained young and charming. She spoke with animation, as usual, and with the gestures of a man. She placed herself before h

to show himself now that she had finished. The mistres

? How is it that you coul

came to pay yo

time," interrupted the mis

linked his eyes, as if seeking some form to give

see you o

adame Desvarennes, with a sh

clared Savinien, looking dow

varennes, "you know our agree

e transfer I made has already cost me too dear. It's a fool's bargain. The enterprise which I a

ieved in his scheme, and was ready to pledge his future. He argued that his aunt could not

ills, but not word-mills. You are talking too much about it to be sincere. So many words can only

italists will advance the money to st

You! Directing an undertaking. You would only commit absurditi

air, "it is confidence in my ideas, it is enthusiasm on the part of

em from you? It seems to me a pretty goo

d your hand upon any one, it is all over. Adieu, independence; one m

has ten thousand francs. And you, Savin

ent!" murmured Marecha

nnes's

ading him toward the safe when the

what is you

ng machine," answered

g money," said the incorrigi

Desvarennes, after having reflected a moment

the woman of business reasserted herself

is demand, and as his aunt gave him

o drawings m

ied the mistress. "Where

, and with an inspired gesture

rechal could not resist b

with your brain as sole guarantee? You! Get along; I am the only one to make bargains like that, and you are the onl