Serge Panine -- Volume 03

hey had returned to Paris with Madame Desvarennes, and the hitherto dull mansion in the Rue Saint-Dominique was filled with joyful bu

young wife had not been able to make up her mind to drive herself-four saddle-horses, upon which every morning about eig

for Micheline, who was delighted at having Serge near her, attentive to her every want, and controlling his thoroughbred English horse to her gentle pace. Every now and then his mount would wh

most touching the ground, racing and frightening the rabbits, which shot across the road swift as bullets. Out of breath by the violent ride, Micheline would stop, and pat the neck of her lovely chestnut horse. Slowly the young people would return to the Rue Sa

e are,

and kiss her daughter

ould go up

is since their marriage. The banker had joined Herzog in his great scheme of the "Credit," and was travelling all over Europe establishing offices and securing openings. Jeanne accompanied h

wn herself in Madame Desvarennes's arms, and had allowed her secret to be found out. The mistress might

ung woman had been near Serge, Madame Desvarennes might have trembled. But Michelin

heat of her passion had not been earned out. Serge had as yet not given Madame Desvarennes cause

ts, for she would never appear at these grand receptions, heard the noise of these doings. This woman, modest and simple in her ideas, whose luxury had always been artistic, wondered that they could spend so much on frivolous entertainments. But Micheline wa

cards, and he was only too willing to give way to it. These gentlemen, among them all, almost without taking off their white kid gloves, would win o

ft chairs, talked of dress behind their fans, or listened to the songs of a

rennes, who used every means of gaining information on the subject, even to the gossip of the servants, heard th

w what was going on, and one morning when the young wife came down to see her mother, dr

usband lost heav

d at Madame Desvarennes, a

d look as if he invited them to rob them. Losses

on acquired expanded ideas. But she dared not say anything more. She dreaded a quarre

into her work wi

, "I will earn larger ones. There can be no hole dug d

the door so that her son-in-law

Cernay, not as in the first days of their marriage as lovers who sought quietude, but as people sure of their happiness, who wished to make a great show. They took all the carriages with them, and there was nothing but bus

games, while one of the gentlemen performed on the large organ. There was a strange mixture of freedom and strictness. The smoke of Russian cigarettes mingled with the scent of opoponax. An elegant confusion which ended about six o'clock in a general flight, when the sportsmen came home, and the guests went to their rooms. An hour afterward all these

returned on the Monday morning. Her presence checked their wild gayety a little. Her black dress was like a blot among the brocades and satins. Her severe gravity, that of a

mself a clever fellow, said before all the other servants that Mother Da

worry us? She had far better stop in the offi

the station. It was the second coachman's duty to drive her, and she did not see him. Thinking that he was a little late, she walked to the stable-yard. There, instead of the victoria which usually took her, she saw a large mail-coa

He had seen her coming, out of the, corne

is not ready to take me to th

d this personage, condescending

coachman who gen

adame would like to

esture, the Englishma

icent buildings at the

the coachman such a look that he moved away a li

n leaves, but here are horses that ought to go we

hman shook

sure," he answered. "I drive the Prince. I don't mind dri

moment, a sharp stroke from a light cane made his hat roll on the pavement. And as the Englishman turned round, red

s stables when he had been attracted by this discussi

med the Prince, sharply, "

g toward t

l have the pleasure of taking you to the sta

Desvarennes

"For once in my life that talent will ha

to the box, he gathered the reins and, cigar in mouth, with all the coolness of an old coachman, he started

in this act of deference to her mother a proof of his love for her. As to the mistress, she understood the advantage this clever manoeuvre

d not condescend to drive a plebeian like her. She paid the wages of these servants to no purpose. H

in the way, and uncomfortable. The smiling and superficial politeness of the visitors irritated her nerves. These people were too well bred to be rude t

s love for horses grew more and more. He gave orders to have a model stud-house erected in the park amid the splendid meadows wate

e the greensward bordering the woods marked out with white stakes. She ask

emoiselle de Cernay gallop there to-day. She's a level-going f

t a change had come over her and what incredible influence this frivolous, vain Panine had over that young and right-minded girl! And that in a few months! What would it be later? H

r. His love was all she asked for, all else was indifferent to her. Thus of her mother, the impassioned toiler, w

sed him. He was faithful, unlikely as that may seem in a man of his kind; he never left his wife.

string round Serge's fo

ormer wom

ghter's happiness. That happiness was

ubles are

is hand was always open. And never did a great lord do more honor to his fortune.

austible, and he had drawn on it like a Prince i

f conduct. At all events, the moment was not yet opportune, and, besides, the amount was not yet large enough. Cry out abou

th heart and soul full of passion and anger, making money. It was fine to witness the duel between these two b

ed Serge that he turned a deaf ear to her complaints. But lost in that large house, the autumn winds rustling through the tree

expensive furniture, the paintings and rare objects. He was charmed. It was really of wonderful beauty, and the cage seemed worthy of the bird. For several evenings he remained q

ourmand. He spent hours in arranging menus and inventing unkn

with a worn-out sleepy horse, his head hanging between his knees, going the round of the lake. He ceased going to the Bois, and

tion in which he vegetated! Shut up in this happy existence, without a care or a cross, he grew weary like a prisoner in his cell. He longed for the unforeseen; his wife

hardened 'roue'. He had not seen him since his marriage. It was a pleasure to him. They h

said Prefont, taki

urniture. The common easy-chairs, covered with dark leather, seemed delightful. He did not notice the well-worn carpets burned here and there by the hot cigar-ash; the strong smell

r, a name caught Madame Desvarennes

trious name inscribed in it. The Prince Panine was admitted yes

Mont had been rung together. In a rapid vision, she saw misfortune coming. Her son-in-law, that born gambler, a

n entrance for her. The plan which she had conceived at Cernay that terrible night of the marriage when Jeanne had confided in her, remained for her to

hy of her? How many tears would the Prince's errors cost her whom she wished to regain at all price? And then would she always be there to

truction, she determined to do all in her power to keep him in the path of honor. That resolution formed, Mada

ply. The young wife was jealous when she saw her husband going out. She feared a rival, and trembled for her love. Serge's mysterious conduct caused her intolerable torture. She dared n

ent his evenings. This discovery was a great relief to her. It was not very wrong to go there, and if the Prince did go and smoke a few cigars and have a ga

e gaming-table with all the ardor of a professional gambler. His face changed its expression. When winning, it was animated with an expression of awful joy; when losing, he looked as

limited. There was always some one willing to take a hand, and until dawn he

paper. Without speaking a word, he placed it on the desk. The mistress took it, read what was writte

Salignon the sum of one

e Pa

ked Madame Desvarennes, crus

ttends the card-r

ed Madame Desvare

they run short of money. The Prince must have found himself in that predicamen

"The rents! A drop of water in a river! You don't know that he is a ma

him, the rogue will sell the feather-bed from under my daughter! But he shall have a little

ame Desvarennes was

had won two hundred and fifty thousand francs from Ibrahim Bey, then he had lost all, besides five thousand louis advanced by

es and looked very much astonished at seeing Madame Desvarennes appear. Pale

ed the receipt which he had signe

and then looking coldly a

paper come int

usand francs! Faith! You are going ahead! Do you know

to give me a lesson in commercial statistics. This paper was presented to your cashier by mistake. I was exp

from a cabinet, the Prince hande

his unexpected answer, "where did you get this m

ood enough to see whether the amount is there," added he with a smile. "I recko

e hand which presented the bank-n

on a very dangerous path, which grieves me very much. I would willingly give te

the Prince wi

y heart. I must give vent to it or I shall choke. You are spending money

ed rage that she dared not say another word. She read deadly hatred in the young man's look. F

ge, in a trembling voice. "Take it,

s's hands. Then tearing up with rage the paper that had been the

She had ruffled Panine's pride. She felt that he would never forgive her. She went to her room sad and thoughtful. Life was becoming gloomy for this poor woman. Her confidence in herself had disappeared. She hesitated now, and was ir

at if her mother had displeased him in any way, she had nothing to do with it. This behavior grieved her mother, who felt that Serge was working secretly to turn Micheline against her. And

affectionate than usual, seeming to wish with the honey of her kisses to sweeten the bitter cross which the mistress was doomed to bear. Then she hesitated. She fidgeted about the room humming. At last she said that the doc

nnes raised her head and gave

Speak the truth! He

is interruption, "I assure you, you are mistaken

e to control myself, and shall say things about him that you will not forgive in a hurry! As you are ill, you are right to have

sive strength, she pushed her roughly; for the

! Leave

the emotion she had just felt. Her nerves were unstrung, and falling on a chair she remained immovable and humbled. Was it possible that her daughter, her adored child, would abandon her to obey the g

and settled beforehand. It seemed to her that all was over; that her daughter was going away forever, and that she would never see her again. She thought of going to beseech Serge and ask him what sum he would take in exchange for Micheline

ess left for Nice with all their household, and the mansio