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And, seizing the notes, he put them by force in Madame Desvarennes's hands. Then tearing up with rage the paper that had been the cause of this painful scene, he threw the pieces in the fireplace. Deeply affected, Madame Desvarennes descended the stairs which she had a few minutes before gone up with so much resolution.
But admitting that you came to Nice, why accept hospitality in this house?" "Micheline offered it to us," said Jeanne. "And even that did not make you refuse. What part do you purpose playing here? After six months of honesty, are you going to change your mind?" Serge, behind his shelter, shuddered. Madame Desvarennes's words were clear. She knew all.
On seeing his aunt enter, Savinien rushed forward and seized both her hands. Madame Desvarennes's arrival was an element of interest in his unoccupied life. The dandy guessed at some mysterious business and thought it possible that he might get to know it. With open ears and prying eyes, he sought the meaning of the least words.
At the end is Madame Desvarennes's bedroom, because she does not like mounting stairs, and lives on the ground floor. Adjoining it is a conservatory, furnished as a drawing-room, and serving as a boudoir for the mistress of the house. The dining-room, the gun-room, and the smoking-room are in the right wing. The gun-room deserves a particular description.
From that time he lost the sense of right and wrong. He admitted the unlikely, and found the impossible quite natural. He was a docile tool in the hands of Herzog. The rumor of this unforeseen change in Panine's circumstances soon reached Madame Desvarennes's ears.
All that Serge had said had been so open and plain, and expressed with such sweetness that, little by little, Madame Desvarennes's prejudices disappeared. He took possession of her as he had done of Micheline, and as he did of every one whom he wished to conquer. His charm was irresistible. He seized on one by the eyes and the ears.
Serge was weighing the question. Herzog was happy; he had shown himself to all Paris in company with Madame Desvarennes's son-in-law. He had already realized one of his projects. The carriage was just passing down the Champs Elysees. The weather was lovely, and in the distance could be seen the trees of the Tuileries and the different monuments of the Place de la Concorde bathed in blue mist.
She highly praised her husband's kindness to her, and said it was unequalled. No allusion was made to that evening of their marriage, when, escaping from Cayrol's wrath, she had thrown herself in Madame Desvarennes's arms, and had allowed her secret to be found out. The mistress might well think then that the thought which at times still troubled her mind was a remembrance of a bad dream.
"Certainly," said the German; "Madame Desvarennes's son-in-law will become a financial power. And a Prince, too. What a fine name for a board of directors!" The two financiers looked at each other for a moment; the same thought had struck them. "Yes, but," replied Cayrol, "Madame Desvarennes will never allow Panine to take part in business." "Who knows?" said Herzog.
With a mischievous wink, Serge called Madame Desvarennes's attention to the mayor's solemn appearance as he was galloping with Micheline, also the comical positions of the rustics. Micheline was smiling. She was enjoying herself. All this homely gayety, of which she was the cause, made her feel happy. She enjoyed the pleasure of those around her.
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