Serge Panine -- Volume 04

ite a profusion of flowers. Cayrol had thought of postponing the party, but was afraid of rousing anxieties, and like an actor who, though he h

h considerable sums of money, the loss on the difference was as great as the gains would have been. The shares belonging to the European Credit Company had defrayed the cost of the game. It was a disaster. Cayrol, in his anxiety, h

s indisposition because she was allowed to nurse him and have him all to herself. Panine, alarmed at the check they had e

ersal Credit Company. It was absolutely necessary that he should be seen in public. He must come to his party, and appear with a calm face. Serge promised to come, and had i

ts were coming from the large drawing-roo

over. Ouf!" said

usic?" asked Mare

essure is too much for one man. But I say, Marechal, what do you think of

w s

aughter is preparing a dance. Each has

ou to keep your flashes of wit to yourself," said

, you, too, m

heel, he went to th

though calm. Cayrol and Jeanne came toward them. Everybody turned to look at them. Jeanne,

me by taking my arm? You are just in

ied Micheline, with a sad smile, "I a

ered the large drawing-room

playing a waltz, and in a whirl of silk and gauze the

e white dress, and without a single ornament. Marechal had

ng to-night, Madem

sister Anne, I see nobody coming. There are ugly reports abroa

. "I don't dance to perfection, never hav

d it. I would rather have remained at home. Business has gone wrong with my father by what I can hear, for I don't know what goes on at the office

he thought of Herzog, and respected the real ignorance or willing

banker, came and seated herself beside her. Many of the guests looked at each other and whispered words which Micheline did not

s looking at her husband who, leaning agains

d had remained in Cayrol's private office. During this party matters of moment were to be discussed, and a consulta

yro

" answered t

ame in,

ith great anxiety,

t we feared is true. Herzog, conjointly with my son-in-law, has

rzog has really bolte

knows that in compromising the Prince it is as if he had compromise

d without the other?

interests with those of the Prince that it will be ne

erzog into the bargai

coldly. "But

he shareholders. When the Universal Credit removed to its new offices, these shares were taken away by mistake. It will suffi

he shares will not be

ed to minute regulari

ing Herzog's fraud without implicating Panine, if the shareholders insist. Trust me, I will catch Herzog another time. It is my stupid confidence in that man which has been partly the cause of thi

he mistress. "Have my daugh

s more power over himself

orking to keep him in idleness and maintain him in luxury. I may think myself lucky if he is reclaimed by this h

with flashing eyes, wal

"If ever my daughter ceases

sture finishe

to their minds, dark and fearful. In a paroxysm of rage this fond mother,

ld you one day," murmur

yr

ed of ten men to that of

yr

f meditation, "the conduct of the business of which you spoke

me a

ost me what it may. Has

iving soul," said the banker-"except to my wife," added he with a f

d Madame Desvarenes, loo

nging to you. She besought me to do all in my power to get the Prince out of this scrape. She had tears in her eyes: And, truly, if I did not fee

esvarennes, who advanced toward the ban

u are truly

miling to hide his emotion,

gh the half-open door the dancers could be seen passin

ma? I hear that you have bee

dame Desvarennes, smoothing from her brow the traces of her cares by

, looking round to follow the movements of

e to this party?

, and I did not care to

d Madame Desvarennes. "

When you are ill

be," resumed Micheline, war

rge with her fan.

me home, won'

dear one," a

over her features, and a cold perspiration broke out on her forehead. She felt so ill that she could have cried out. It was the first time she had seen Serge and Jeanne together since the dreadful discovery at Nice. She had avoided witnessi

ious signs which Jeanne made to him

l at the club. I promised, and cannot put it off. Excuse my

a trembling voice. "I will ask h

a mo

all leave i

le comedy being played under her very eyes. She remained to

Serge had gone across to Jeanne,

s the m

plained that she must spea

e asked, with

answered

sband?" the

arden, and wait in the pavilion. The door of the back stairs leading

e observed," said

hing serious were occupying their thoughts. Cayrol had come back again. He went up to Madam

h you as soon as

nquired Micheline, a li

"I have an importa

d Micheline, in such a changed vo

nker. "Allow me to leave you.

oir, he regained the

d hands and fixed gaze,

o come to her. He told me an untruth about his h

to drive away an unpleasant thought, the you

u?" asked Madame Desvarennes, seizing

stammered

Come, let us go home.

or, instinctively recoiling as

d calm. She foresaw a terrible revelation,

speak of your kissing Jeann

and Jeanne, who were in the little drawing-room, laughing

them!"

he mother in agony. She read th

ow-"she

er. "Don't you see that I am dying through it?" she add

de the couch on which Micheline was stretched, she gave vent to her grief. She begged her daughter to speak to her, and

Let no one know. I ought to have held my peace; b

r, and Serge. Oh! make me forget it! For pity's sake, mamma, you who are so strong, yo

d of grief, lost command of herself, and,

it! I said to myself, at least she knows nothing about it, and sacrificed everything to keep the knowledge of their wrong-doing from you. Don't cry any mo

vines the danger. Is it not too horrible, mamma? I, who have sacrificed everything for him, to think that he does not love me, a

ome, don't talk such nonsense! Because a man treats you with scorn and betrays you? Are men worth dying for?

! Oh! I cannot bear that thought. Do you know, what I am going to tell you see

a had already occurred to her as a dream of deliverance. It came upon he

im but as vile and odio

seem more dastardly and

go, he was smiling; and

and during his absence

igh

told

anything from me. A traitor to me, and a traitor toward his

s, and at the same time the door opened and Jeanne appeared,

inquired Madame Ca

Desvarennes. "Marechal, give my daughter your arm, and

hand to prevent her foll

something to

his going away. The life of this wretch was entirely in her hands then! But Jeanne! Was she going to ruin her? Had she the right thus to destroy one who had struggled and

us made up her mind, turned t

nd I find you happy and smiling. It is the first tim

ss without answering. In th

stly at Jeanne with her piercing eyes. "You see, my dear, when you ha

a question and not an affirm

thi

ou, and would be most l

"and that you might

ear, having nothing

ted the mistress

" affirme

er adopted daughter as if she would read

aid she, hastily wal

?" asked Jeanne, offer

ennes'

said the latter,

drawing-room. At the same moment, Cayrol, in a trav

Madame Desvarennes. "Have you any new sugge

varennes, in a stern voic

a moment to spare, and you kno

ill no

amazement

Your interests ar

ger here," cried the

starting back. "Madame, do

er what I promised you? I undertook to warn you, myse

ned Cayrol, tur

you wish to know who your r

ords rattled in

ne be guilty? Do you know, if i

conscience dictates,"

ed accordin

of which he had been a witness, shook off his s

that what you have ju

eeking to take away his wife, and they are killing my daughter, and dishonor

k to him like the refrain of a hated song. To himself he kept repeating, without being able to chase away the one haunting thought: "Her lover, to-night, at your

id Pierre. "Her

was approaching. Burning

urmu

pure, and a face so c

e Desvarennes, who were leaving, and rec

quired. "You know you

She seemed anxious

ou see, Jeanne, I am sad at going away alone. It is the first time I have

you see, dear, I a

at. Wrap yourself up in your furs, and come! Give me this proof o

d. This press

ill return the day after tomorrow, a

d Cayrol, becoming

s face slightly w

r! You won't miss me much, you w

er; in a chokin

od-

e lef

moment and heard the carriage which contained her husba

la