Serge Panine -- Volume 04

were beginning to be crowded. He might meet some people of his acquaintance. He resolved to face what ever reception was awaiting him on the way, he was p

uble as he had been insolent in prosperity, he accepted beforehand all that she

last words came to his mind: "Confess all to your wife; she can get you out of this difficulty!" He understood the meaning of them, and resolved to follow the advice. Micheline l

g clothes. Looking in the glass he was surprised at the alteration in his features. Was his beauty going too? What would become of him if he failed to please. And, like an actor who is about to play an important part, he paid great atte

line

e familiar visits. The presence of her beloved one in that room, which had seemed so empty when he was not there, made her

r child," said he

" answered Micheline. "

night. I had left you w

t had occurred, and I w

ame in ve

ted Panine, making the young wife sit down besid

said the young wife,

would not reproach yo

med with joy, and te

u are of respect and affection. I feel unworthy, and would kneel before you to say how I regret all th

weet words! Open your heart to me! You know I would die to please you. If you have any anxietie

constrained manner of a man who is feigning. "Nothi

for us?" said the young wi

shook his h

nswer for

nderstanding what Serge meant, but her mind was o

we not both young? And, if you like, is

to him. Serg

utting her arms round him. "You a

le to bring tears to his eyes, and went toward the window as if to hid

are unhappy or in pain; threatened perhap

from me. I should blush to make it. But, thank Heaven, if I cannot extricate myself from the diff

gesture Panine had made. "What would become of me then? But what i

" answered Serge

ll, I will go to her.

o strike you she will f

kiss, the hypocrite inspired her whom he entr

fe, and passing through the little dra

cted day had arrived. Serge was coming back to her. She went on, and as she reached th

suddenly drew back, uttering an exclamation

and fly. But overcome with jealousy, the young wife seized her

ann

Micheline, and beseeching

! don't th

. "Don't tell me any lies! I know a

e, Jeanne hid her face

G

cheline, in a furious tone, "to seek hi

f up, blushing wit

she said, "that l

" asked Micheline

able and pressing danger

r! Of wh

s at the mercy of my husband

husb

If you could ruin me, w

an

I am going to worry about you? Serge is my first thou

ent's delay he

ine's mind. She approached Jeanne,

everything, without a thought of the trouble you leave behi

ldly and impudently, defying and al

ough of dissimulation! I

for a struggle, threw herself in Jeanne's way, with

id; "try to ta

as as ignorant of his love as she was of his danger; who could do nothing toward his happiness, and can do nothin

cheline, "to invoke yo

rried you? Do you know that he abandoned me for you-for your money, I should say? Now, do you wish to weigh what I have suffered with what you su

rious address almost in a state o

- humiliation and obscurity in a strange land. And that is what you advise, because you hope to share that miserable existence with him. You are urging him on to dishonor. His fate is in the hands of a man who ado

distracted. "You wish

ready to do. If, to remove your jealous fears, it is necessary to sacrifice myself, I swear

to grow taller and nobler. Jeanne, trembling and overpowered,

you d

o me. Do what I ask you and I will forgive you and bless you. Do not hesitate! Follow me! Let us throw ourselves at the feet of him whom you hav

ad. She was silent for a moment and then her breast heaved with convulsive sobs, a

ou have just made them still more so. Keep Serge: with you he will once more become ho

n hand to try to save the

, after the troubles he had gone through. He had not the slightest suspicion of the scene in the adjoining room b

rge was beginning to think that the interview was very long, when a light step made him tremble.

ted, vexed, and anxiou

d never met alone sinc

bold demeanor, and retu

his voic

is it

me?" answered Pierre w

rg

uth to speak, but Pierre

ovoking accents

ce; have you forgotten i

in, and I come

med the Prince,

y calmed himse

will not li

ourself, I have come to help you. You must leave Paris to- night, or you will be arrested. We shall go together to Brussels and there we shall fight. If ch

!" said Serg

rgency. Come; must I strike you, to give you courage?

snarled Serge,

hich was close to him,

rderer!" said Pierre,

t's see y

dame Desvarennes came forward. Placing her hand on Pierre's sho

me in my roo

nd, without ans

e pistol on the tab

matters," said Madame Desvaren

ly, "and, believe me, no one judges

uld not help lo

such a mood. You have not accustomed me to such humility and

his mother-in-law's words. One thing struck him, which was that

st have told

e mistress, sharply, as if to make him unders

had met Jeanne on her wa

ought he was abandoned b

and that his feigned r

elf any longer, his fa

me! Well! I will de

Madame Desvar

, what do you

annot pay our way, throw blood on the blot and it disappears. You m

the future? I will answer you with precision. I purpose leaving to-night for Aix-la- Chapelle, where I shall join my friend He

ords he put all the

t leave me!" exclaim

anine. "That arrangement will suit me. Since my trou

svarennes. "You won't get much out of me. My daughter and I

ied Panine, "wha

nd stopped the words on her lips. This signal, which was used only on important occasio

ed face, and silently handed Madame Desvarennes a card.

e threw the card on the table

sheriff's

he turned to the mistress, a

"it is clear, he has

rawer, took forth some handfuls of gold an

all have time to get awa

for five mi

s guarded?" asked

He felt himself enclosed in a ring

luence, I know, and you will get me out of this mess. I shall be grateful to you f

he thus besought

ame Desvarennes does n

cquitted," said she

ve me do?" cried S

t answer, but pointed to

that would be giving y

n a push, so that it

aren

her suppressed rage. "You are not even

ama with you," snarled Serge. "I

a step tow

he revolver, and thre

not go out!

e exclaimed, gna

" repeated the mistres

hall

seized Madame Desvarenn

d. Serge had his hand on

Madame Desvarennes's a

and, having done its work and, amid the smoke, a body drop

her hand the fatal receipt which she had just wrung from Cayrol. The yo

exchanged looks with the mistress, who was lifting her faint

rd his compa

earing that you had come, took fright, although hi

ectfully to the mistre

hel

much," said he. "I understand your legitimate grief. If I

bending under the burden, she bore aw

ITOR'S B

as he had been ins

not in dignity what

iked the world t

ot feel your blow