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Jeanne frowned, and without answering, shook her head haughtily. Cayrol continued, without noticing this forecast of a storm: "They envy me; and I can understand it! I would not change places with anybody. There, our friend Prince Panine is very happy; he has married a woman whom he loves and who adores him. Well, he is not happier than I am!"
"Oh, I know capitalists run after you," said Cayrol, laughingly; "and to welcome them you affect the scruples of a pretty woman. But let us go and congratulate the Prince." While Cayrol and Herzog were exchanging those few words which had such a considerable influence on the future of Serge Panine a scene, terrible in its simplicity, was going on without being noticed.
Not that he liked the Prince he was too much on Pierre's side to be well disposed toward Panine; but with his good sense he saw that Madame Desvarennes would find it advantageous to overcome her feeling of dislike. And when the mistress, so formidable toward everybody except her daughter, cried with rage: "That Micheline!
If you had not made the offer to me, I should have asked you to let me stay with you." Madame Desvarennes broke into such an outburst of joy that she astonished Panine. It was then only that in that pallor, in that sudden trembling, in that changed voice, he understood, the immensity of the mother's love for her daughter. "I have everything to gain by that arrangement," continued he.
Panine, with his Polish impetuosity, was making the most ardent protestations to Pierre he would be indebted to him for life. Micheline's late betrothed, with despair in his heart, allowed his hands to be pressed and wrung in silence. The voice of her whom he loved brought tears to his eyes. "How generous and good you are!" said the young girl, "how nobly you have sacrificed yourself!"
Cayrol was most uneasy, and made a confidant of his wife, who, deeply troubled, told Panine the fears his friends entertained on his account. The Prince smiled disdainfully, saying these fears were the effect of plebeian timidity. The mistress understood nothing of great speculations, and Cayrol was a narrow-minded banker! He knew what he was doing.
Madame Desvarennes, unable to contain her feelings, opened her arms, and Serge fell on her breast, like a true son. "Do you know, I am going to adore you!" cried Madame Desvarennes, showing Panine a face beaming with happiness. "I hope so," said the young man, gayly. Madame Desvarennes became thoughtful. "What a strange thing life is!" resumed she.
"I am in my right mind, unfortunately for you!" said Pierre, roughly, seeing that Jeanne refused to believe him. "And there is no joke in the matter. Everything is true, serious and terrible! Since you compel me to say things which may be unpalatable, they must out. Prince Panine is in your house, or he soon will be.
The group of young men dispersed. The two friends looked at each other. Thus, then, Serge Panine was judged by his companions in pleasure, by the frequenters of the clubs in which he had spent a part of his existence. The Prince being "in the market" was obliged to marry a rich woman. He could not marry Lady Harton, so he had sought Micheline. And the sweet child was the wife of such a man!
And as Panine in a firmer voice answered again, "Yes!" the young girl took two rapid steps and brought her flushed face close to him. "And I, then?" she cried with a violence she could no longer restrain. Serge made a sign. The drawing-room window was still open, and from outside they could be heard. "Jeanne, in mercy calm yourself," replied he. "You are in a state of excitement."
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