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Updated: June 19, 2025
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!"
"The attempt is novel. Who knows? Perhaps it will succeed!" "May Heaven grant it," said Cayrol. Then, approaching Panine: "Ah! dear Prince, what gratitude I shall owe you! You know," added he in a whisper, "if you need a few thousand louis for wedding presents " "Go, go, corrupter!" replied Serge, with the same forced gayety; "you are flashing your money in front of us.
"Of what?" asked the young girl, with a troubled voice. "What have I to fear now?" "What do you wish?" resumed Panine, with old firmness, and with a gesture of impatience. "I wish to speak with you immediately." "You see that is impossible." "I must." Cayrol and Herzog approached. Serge smiled at Jeanne with a sign of the head which meant "Yes."
"Of what?" asked the young girl, with a troubled voice. "What have I to fear now?" "What do you wish?" resumed Panine, with old firmness, and with a gesture of impatience. "I wish to speak with you immediately." "You see that is impossible." "I must." Cayrol and Herzog approached. Serge smiled at Jeanne with a sign of the head which meant "Yes."
We will take measures to prosecute the papers for libel if they dare to publish these untruths." Cayrol saw that nothing would convince Panine. He hoped that an interview with Herzog would enlighten him. He left the matter to chance, as reasoning was of no avail, and went down to the mistress. Serge drove to the Universal Credit Company. It was the first day in the new offices.
Madame Desvarennes saw that she would gain nothing, and that the game was irrevocably lost. A great sorrow stole over her. She foresaw a dark future, and had a presentiment that trouble had entered the house with Serge Panine. What could she do? Combat the infatuation of her daughter! She knew that life would be odious for her if Micheline ceased to laugh and to sing.
Serge, during this short and bloody struggle, showed prodigies of valor. On the night of Sadowa, out of seven bearing the name of Panine, who had served against Prussia, five were dead, one was wounded; Serge alone was untouched, though red with the blood of his uncle Thaddeus, who was killed by the bursting of a shell. All these Panines, living or dead, had gained honors.
With a bound, without going through the offices, without even taking off her bonnet and cloak, she went up to Serge's apartments. Without hesitating, she entered the smoking-room. Panine was there. Evidently he was expecting her. On seeing Madame Desvarennes he rose, with a smile: "One can see that you are at home," said he, ironically; "you come in without knocking."
The mistress took it, read what was written upon it in shaky handwriting, and suddenly becoming purple, rose. The paper bore these simple words: "Received from Monsieur Salignon the sum of one hundred thousand francs. Serge Panine." "Who brought this paper?" asked Madame Desvarennes, crushing it between her fingers. "The waiter who attends the card-room at the club."
"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.
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