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Jeanne raised her eyes boldly, and looking at him in the face, said, defiantly: "Well, then, nobody!" And, rising, she took the arm of Cayrol, who was advancing toward her. The Prince remained motionless for a moment, following them with his eyes. Then, seeing his wife alone with Madame Desvarennes, he went out on the terrace. Already the couples were dancing on the polished marble.
Anxiety for my health alone guides my husband." "Your husband!" broke forth Madame Desvarennes. "Your husband! Ah, there; go away! Because if you stop here, I shall not be able 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 change of air.
If we had been in Venice, knowing Madame Desvarennes as I do, it would not have been surprising to me to have had Master Serge found at the bottom of the canal some fine morning." "You are not in earnest," muttered the banker. "Much more so than you think.
Through the window, between two pyramids of pink and blue packets of biscuits, one could always catch sight of the serious-looking Madame Desvarennes, knitting woollen stockings for her husband while waiting for customers. With her prominent forehead, and her eyes always bent on her work, this woman appeared the living image of perseverance.
"Yes, Monsieur Savinien, Madame Desvarennes is in her office; but she has been engaged for more than an hour with the Financial Secretary of the War Department." In uttering these words old Felix put on a mysterious and important air, which denoted how serious the discussions going on in the adjoining room seemed to his mind.
"My dear Prince, I swear to you that I am in despair," cried Cayrol, annoyed at the turn the interview was taking. "Listen; be reasonable! I don't know what you have done to your mother-in-law, but she seems much vexed with you. In your place I would rather make a few advances than remain hostile toward Madame Desvarennes. That would mend matters, you see. Flies are not to be caught with vinegar."
Serge took Cayrol apart. "What are you going to do to-night, my dear fellow? "You know an apartment has been prepared for you here?" "Yes, I have already thanked Madame Desvarennes, but I mean to go back to Paris. Our little paradise is prepared for us, and I wish to enter it to-night. I have my carriage and horses here. I am taking away my wife post-haste."
When he spoke of his fears to Madame Desvarennes, the latter said: "These young girls are so senseless. The notion of marriage puts them in such an incomprehensible state! Look at my daughter. She chatters like a magpie and skips about like a kid. She has two glow-worms under her eyelids! As to Jeanne, that's another affair; she has the matrimonial melancholy, and has the air of a young victim.
"Show it to him," said Madame Desvarennes; "he is the companion of Micheline's young days, almost a son to me." And turning toward Pierre, she pointed him out to Panine. Serge took three rapid strides toward Pierre, but quick as he had been Micheline was before him. Each of the lovers seized a hand of Pierre, and pressed it with tender effusion.
"You consent, don't you, dear mother?" murmured Micheline, falling into the arms of her by whom she knew she was adored. "I will do as you wish," said Madame Desvarennes, kissing her daughter's hair that golden hair which, in former days, she loved to stroke. The strains of the piano sounded on the terrace. In the shade, groups of merry dancers were enjoying themselves.
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