Serge Panine -- Volume 03

ound of his steps. The young woman was gazing into vacancy and breathing with difficu

" he murmured, softl

, bewildered

er

the Prince, "who has ne

ead over the you

language is unworthy of a ma

ed toward the gallery. Serge t

op; you cann

aimed Jeanne, moving away.

been saying?" retorted Serge. "I

Jeanne, "you know that

yours, an

ainst which your heart rebels. A

ced toward her, trying t

husband are there. You must be mad to forget it

ed Serge, claspin

ree herself from

h and rapture in the arms of him whom she ado

s on her lips. Jeanne f

a supre

!" she stammere

me rolled do

The other, your husba

u back. I

woman fell

repe

I love you!

pushed away the arms which clasped her. She placed her hand

e room from the adjoining drawing-room was lifted. A shadow appeared on the threshold, as they were still in each other's arms. The stifled exclam

mind; she realized in a moment the extent of her crime, and uttering a cry

d the room. Pierre, serious and cold, walked behind her. The Princess, feeling tired, had co

pale betrothed of whom he had dreamed as a wife, who had willingly given herself to another, and who now found herself so cruelly punished. She measured the distance which separated these two me

face of her childhood's friend such sincere grief and honest indignation, that she felt as safe, wit

eline arise. She recognized her husband's st

word; forget wh

deep grief,

ad seen him unawares he

g, yet blaming the poor woman, who, in her outraged love, still had the absurd courage to hold her tongue and to resi

in? At this idea he trembled, measuring the possible results of the imprudence he had been guilty of. He resolved to face the difficulty if it were either of these three interested parties, and to

elarue guessed the anxiety of Serge, and the Prince

o came in?" he

ed Pierre, w

eeking a polite form to express his request. He did n

d your tongue

nquired Pierce

dy calmed. "Excuse me; I know that you will not te

Madame Desvarennes, whose high intelligence you have not been able to understand; for Micheline, whose tender heart you have not been able

anced a step,

err

and looking Serge i

letters to you. Your own pleasure above all things, and always! That is your rule, eh? and so much the worse if ruin and trouble to others are the

sibility, and when Pierre had finished, he smiled, s

mpertinent. You come here meddling with my affairs. What authority have you?

seated himself and laug

nswered,

married her, but sacrificed my love to hers: that is my authority! And it is in the name

told him, and was trying to recover his calmness. Pierre, trembling

ur claim there is more than the outcry of an irritated co

with a pious love, from the depth of my soul, as one would l

d the Prince excl

you want? Explain yourself. I don't suppose that you have addressed this rebuk

g in the Prince's answer, and calmin

olly and error of a moment, and that you swear to

d him. He felt petty beside this devoted friend, who only thought of

nd myself to those whims wh

at, when renouncing Micheline, I promised to be a bro

me, I think," cried S

I war

ervice you have rendered me, from henceforth we are quits. Don't think that I

e peril be in accomplishing it. You know what price I put on Micheline's ha

th suppressed rage, Pierr

as quiet. Pierre breathed with delight; he instinctively turned his eyes toward the brilliant sky, and in the far-off firmament, the star which he approp

ad been so lucky, and on his way home he smiled when he thought how false was the proverb, "Lucky at play, unlucky in love." He thought of that adorable Jeanne whom he had held in his arms a few hours be

d maintain the illusion of his love for her. Madame Desvarennes alone inconvenienced him in his arrangements. She was sagacious, and on several occasions he had seen her unveil plots which he thought were well contrived. He must really

sounded in his ears like a verdict. He promised himself to play a sure game with Madame Desvarennes. As to Cayrol, he was out of the question; he had only been created as a plaything for princes such as Serge; his destiny was written on his

reakfast, he found the family assembled. Savinien had come to see his aunt, before whom he wanted to place a "colossal idea." This time, he said, it was worth

te-winged birds. Madame Desvarennes was serious, and was giving Marechal instructions respecting her correspondence, while at the same time watching her daughter out of the corner of her eye. Micheline's depressed manner caused her some anxiety; she gues

kiss on Micheline's brow, he seated himself at table. The repast was silent. Each one seemed preoccupied. Serge anxiously asked himself whether Pierre had spoken. Marecha

leading him into the garden, under th

, you no doubt know, on our account. Our absence made her sad, and she could no longer refrain from s

errupted Serge,

our engagements. There are necessities to which one must submit; you do what

unexpected turn the interview was taking. "Speak,

that we shall leave for Paris this week. The season is far advancing. All your fri

den resolution. "But, admit," added he, gravely, "tha

til I had your consent. A refusal on your part would have seemed too cruel. Already, you are not the best of friends, and

eline in one day? She who lately sacrificed her mother for her husband

cided on his c

it please you. You wish to return to Paris, we will go as soon as our arrangements have been made. Tell M

And Serge having gallantly kissed

e Desvarennes, and was Micheline taking him back to Paris in the hope of inducing a change in his habits? They would see. The idea that Micheline had seen him with Jeanne never occurred to h

in the vastness of the capital, the lovers would be more secure. They could see each other at leisure. Serge would hire a s