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The stairs leading to the first floor were covered by a well- +worn carpet. Here was a long corridor into which the different offices +opened. On their glass doors might be read: "Payments of dividends." +"Accounts." "Foreign correspondence." "General office." Cayrol's own +room was quite at the end, and communicated with his private apartments. +Everything breathed of simplicity and honesty. Cayrol had never tried to +throw dust into people's eyes. He had started modestly when opening the +bank; his business had increased, but his habits had remained the same. +It was not a difficult matter to obtain an interview, even by people not +known to him. They sent in their cards, and were admitted to his +sanctum. + +It was amid the coming and going of customers and clerks that Prince +Panine came the following day to find Cayrol. For the first time Serge +had put himself out for the banker. He was introduced with marks of the +most profound respect. The great name of Desvarennes seemed to cast a +kind of halo round his head in the eyes of the clerks. + +Cayrol, a little embarrassed, but still resolute, went toward him. Serge +seemed nervous and somewhat abrupt in manner. He foresaw some +difficulty. + +"Well! my dear fellow," he said, without sitting down. "What are you up +to? I have waited since yesterday for the money you promised me." + +Cayrol scratched his ear, and felt taken aback by this plain speaking. + +"The fact is--" stammered he. + +"Have you forgotten your engagement?" asked Serge, frowning. + +"No," replied Cayrol, speaking slowly, "but I met Madame Desvarennes +yesterday." + +"And what had that to do with your intentions?" + +"Zounds! It had everything to do with them. Your mother-in-law made a +scene, and forbade my lending you any money. You must understand, my +dear Prince, that my relations with Madame Desvarennes are important. +I hold a great deal of money of hers in my bank. She first gave me a +start. I cannot, without appearing ungrateful, act contrary to her will. +Place yourself in my position, and judge impartially of the terrible +alternative between obliging you and displeasing my benefactress." + +"Don't cry; it is useless," said Serge, with a scornful laugh. "I +sympathize with your troubles. You side with the money-bags. It remains +to be seen whether you will gain by it." + +"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 looked contemptuously at Cayrol, and put on his hat with supreme +insolence. + +"Pardon me, my dear fellow; as a banker you are excellent when you have +any money to spare, but as a moralist you are highly ridiculous." + +And, turning on his heel, he quitted the office, leaving Cayrol quite +abashed. He passed along the corridor switching his cane with suppressed +rage. Madame Desvarennes had, with one word, dried up the source from +which he had been drawing most of the money which he had spent during the +last three months. He had to pay a large sum that evening at the club, +and he did not care to apply to the money-lenders of Paris. + +He went down the stairs wondering how he would get out of this scrape! +Go to Madame Desvarennes and humble himself as Cayrol advised? Never! +He regretted, for a moment, the follies which had led him into this +difficulty. He ought to have been able to live on two hundred thousand +francs a year! He had squandered money foolishly, and now the +inexhaustible well from which he had drawn his treasure was closed +by an invincible will. + +He was crossing the gateway, when a well-known voice struck his ear, and +he turned round. Herzog, smiling in his enigmatical manner, was before +him. Serge bowed, and wanted to pass on, but the financier put his hand +on his arm, saying: + +"What a hurry you are in, Prince. I suppose your pocketbook is full of +notes, and you are afraid of being plundered." + +And with his finger, Herzog touched the silver mounted pocketbook, the +corner of which was peeping out of the Prince's pocket. Panine could not +control a gesture of vexation, which made the financier smile. + +"Am I wrong?" asked Herzog. "Can our friend Cayrol have refused your +request? By-the-bye, did you not quarrel with Madame Desvarennes +yesterday? Whoever was it told me that? Your mother-in-law spoke of +cutting off all your credit, and from your downcast look I guess that +fool Cayrol has obeyed the orders he has received." + +Serge, exasperated and stamping with rage, wanted to speak, but it was no +easy matter interrupting Herzog. Besides, there was something in the +latter's look which annoyed Serge. His glance seemed to be fathoming the +depths of Panine's pockets, and the latter instinctively tightened his +arms across his chest, so that Herzog might not see that his pocketbook +was empty. + +"What are you talking about?" asked Serge, at last, with a constrained +smile. + +"About things which must greatly interest you," said Herzog, familiarly. +"Come, be sincere. Cayrol has just refused you a sum of money. He's a +simpleton! How much do you want? Will a hundred thousand francs do just +now?" + +And writing a few words on a check, the financier handed it to Serge, +adding: + +"A man of your position should not be in any difficulty for such a paltry +sum!" + +"But, sir," said Serge, astonished, and pushing away Herzog's hand. + +"Accept it, and don't feel indebted to me. It is hardly worth while +between you and me." + +And taking Panine's arm Herzog walked on with him. + +"Your carriage is there? all right, mine will follow. I want to talk to +you. Your troubles cannot last. I will show you the means of +extricating yourself and that without delay, my dear sir." + +And without consulting Panine he seated himself beside him in the +carriage. + +"I told you once, if you remember," continued the financier, "that I +might prove useful to you. You were haughty, and I did not insist; yet +you see the day has come. Let me speak frankly with you. It is my usual +manner, and there is some good in it." + +"Speak," answered Serge, rather puzzled. + +"You find yourself at this moment, vulgarly speaking, left in the lurch. +Your wants are many and your resources few." + +"At least--" protested Serge. + +"Good! There you are refractory," said the financier, laughingly, "and I +have not finished. The day after your marriage you formed your household +on a lavish footing; you gave splendid receptions; you bought race- +horses; in short, you went the pace like a great lord. Undoubtedly it +costs a lot of money to keep up such an establishment. As you spent +without counting the cost, you confounded the capital with the interest, +so that at this moment you are three parts ruined. I don't think you +would care to change your mode of living, and it is too late in the day +to cut down expenses and exist on what remains? No. Well, to keep up +your present style you need at least a million francs every year." + +"You calculate like Cocker," remarked Serge, smiling with some +constraint. + +"That is my business," answered Herzog. "There are two ways by which you +can obtain that million. The first is by making it up with your mother- +in-law, and consenting, for money, to live under her dominion. I know +her, she will agree to this." + +"But," said Serge, "I refuse to submit." + +"In that case you must get out of your difficulties alone." + +"And how?" inquired the Prince, with astonishment. + +Herzog looked at him seriously. + +"By entering on the path which I am ready to open up to you," replied +Herzog, "and in which I will guide you. By going in for business." + +Serge returned Herzog's glance and tried to read his face, but found him +impenetrable. + +"To go into business one needs experience, and I have none." + +"Mine will suffice," retorted the financier. + +"Or money," continued the Prince," and I have none, either." + +"I don't ask money from you. I offer you some." + +"What, then, do I bring into the concern?" + +"The prestige of your name, and your relations with Madame Desvarennes." + +The Prince answered, haughtily: + +"My relations are personal, and I doubt whether they will serve you. My +mother-in-law is hostile, and will do nothing for me. As to my name, it +does not belong to me, it belongs to those who bore it nobly before me." + +"Your relations will serve me," said Herzog. "I am satisfied. Your +mother-in-law cannot get out of your being her daughter's husband, and +for that you are worth your weight in gold. As to your name, it is just +because it has been nobly borne that it is valuable. Thank your +ancestors, therefore, and make the best of the only heritage they left +you. Besides, if you care to examine things closely, your ancestors will +not have reason to tremble in their graves. What did they do formerly? +They imposed taxes on their vassals and extorted money from the +vanquished. We financiers do the same. Our vanquished are the +speculators; our vassals the shareholders. And what a superiority there +is about our proceedings! There is no violence. We persuade; we +fascinate; and the money flows into our coffers. What do I say? They +beseech us to take it. We reign without contest. We are princes, too +princes of finance. We have founded an aristocracy as proud and as +powerful as the old one. Feudality of nobility no longer exists; it has +given way to that of money." + +Serge laughed. He saw what Herzog was driving at. + +"Your great barons of finance are sometimes subject to executions," said +he. + +"Were not Chalais, Cinq-Mars, Biron, and Montmorency executed?" asked +Herzog, with irony. + +"That was on a scaffold," replied Panine. + +"Well! the speculator's scaffold is the Bourse! But only small dabblers +in money succumb; the great ones are safe from danger. They are +supported in their undertakings by such powerful and numerous interests +that they cannot fail without involving public credit; even governments +are forced to come to their aid. One of these powerful and +indestructible enterprises I have dreamed of grafting on to the European +Credit Company, the Universal Credit Company. Its very name is a +programme in itself. To stretch over the four quarters of the globe like +an immense net, and draw into its meshes all financial speculators: such +is its aim. Nobody will be able to withstand us. I am offering you +great things, but I dream of still greater. I have ideas. You will see +them developed, and will profit by them, if you join my fortunes. You +are ambitious, Prince. I guessed it; but your ambition hitherto has been +satisfied with small things--luxurious indulgences and triumphs of +elegance! What are these worth to what I can give you? The sphere in +which you move is narrow. I will make it immense. You will no longer +reign over a small social circle, you will rule a world." + +Serge, more affected than he cared to show, tried to banter. + +"Are you repeating the prologue to Faust?" asked he. "Where is your +magical compact? Must I sign it?" + +"Not at all. Your consent is sufficient. Look into the business, study +it at your leisure, and measure the results; and then if it suit you, you +can sign a deed of partnership. Then in a few years you may possess a +fortune surpassing all that you have dreamed of." + +The financier remained silent. 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. +Groups of horsemen were cantering along the side avenues. Long files of +carriages were rolling rapidly by with well-dressed ladies. The capital +displayed at that hour all the splendor of its luxury. It was Paris in +all its strength and gayety. + +Herzog stretched out his hand, and calling the Prince's attention to the +sight, said: + +"There's your empire!" + +Then, looking at him earnestly, he asked: + +"Is it agreed?" + +Serge hesitated for a moment, and then bowed his head, saying: + +"It is agreed." + +Herzog pulled the check-string communicating with the coachman and +alighted. + +"Good-by," said he to Panine. + +He slipped into his own carriage, which had followed closely behind, and +drove off. + +From that day, even Jeanne had a rival. The fever of speculation had +seized on Serge; he had placed his little finger within the wheels and he +must follow--body, name, and soul. The power which this new game +exercised over him was incredible. It was quite different to the stupid +games at the club, always the same. On the Bourse, everything was new, +unexpected, sudden, and formidable. The intensity of the feelings were +increased a hundredfold, owing to the importance of the sums risked. + +It was really a splendid sight to see Herzog manipulating matters, +maneuvering with a miraculous dexterity millions of francs. And then the +field for operations was large. Politics, the interests of nations, were +the mainsprings which impelled the play, and the game assumed diplomatic +vastness and financial grandeur. + +From his private office Herzog issued orders, and whether his ability was +really extraordinary, or whether fortune exceptionally favored him, +success was certain. Serge, from the first week, realized considerable +sums. This brilliant success threw him in a state of great excitement. +He believed everything that Herzog said to him as if it were gospel. He +saw the world bending under the yoke which he was about to impose upon +it. People working and toiling every day were doing so for him alone, +and like one of those kings who had conquered the world, he pictured all +the treasures of the earth laid at his feet. 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. The mistress was frightened, and sent +for Cayrol, begging him to remain a director of the European Credit, in +order to watch the progress of the new affair. With her practical common +sense, she foresaw disasters, and even regretted that Serge had not +confined himself to cards and reckless living. + +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. The results of his speculations were mathematical. So far they +had not disappointed his hopes. The great Universal Credit Company, of +which he was going to be a director, would bring him in such an immense +fortune that he would be independent of Madame Desvarennes. + +Jeanne, terrified at this blind confidence, tried to persuade him. Serge +took her in his arms, kissed her, and banished her fears. + +Madame Desvarennes had forbidden her people to tell Micheline anything of +what was going on, as she wished her to remain in perfect ignorance. By +a word, the mistress, if she could not have prevented the follies of +which Serge was guilty, could, at least, have spared herself and her +daughter. It would have only been necessary to reveal his behavior and +betrayal to Micheline, and to provoke a separation. If the house of +Desvarennes were no longer security for Panine, his credit would fall. +Disowned by his mother-in-law, and publicly given up by her, he would be +of no use to Herzog, and would be promptly thrown over by him. The +mistress did not wish her daughter to know the heartrending truth. She +would not willingly cause her to shed tears, and therefore preferred +risking ruin. + +Micheline, too, tried to hide her troubles from her mother. She knew too +well that Serge would have the worst of it if he got into her black +books. With the incredible persistence of a loving heart, she hoped to +win back Serge. Thus a terrible misunderstanding caused these two women +to remain inactive and silent, when, by united efforts, they might, +perhaps, have prevented dangers. + +The great speculation was already being talked about. Herzog was boldly +placing his foot on the summit whereon the five or six demigods, who +ruled the stock market, were firmly placed. The audacious encroachments +of this newcomer had vexed these formidable potentates, and already they +had decided secretly his downfall because he would not let them share in +his profits. + +One morning, the Parisians, on awakening, found the walls placarded with +notices advertising the issue of shares in the Universal Credit Company, +and announcing the names of the directors, among which appeared that of +the Prince. Some were members of the Legion d'Honneur; others recent +members of the Cabinet Council, and Prefets retired into private life. +A list of names to dazzle the public, but all having a weak point. + +This created a great sensation in the business world. Madame +Desvarennes's son-in-law was on the board. It was a good speculation, +then? People consulted the mistress, who found herself somewhat in a +dilemma; either she must disown her son-in-law, or speak well of the +affair. Still she did not hesitate, for she was loyal and honest above +all things. She declared the speculation was a poor one, and did all she +could to prevent any of her friends becoming shareholders. + +The issue of shares was disastrous. The great banks remained hostile, +and capitalists were mistrustful. Herzog landed a few million francs. +Doorkeepers and cooks brought him their savings. He covered expenses. +But it was no use advertising and puffing in the newspapers, as a word +had gone forth which paralyzed the speculation. Ugly rumors were afloat. +Herzog's German origin was made use of by the bankers, who whispered that +the aim of the Universal Credit Company was exclusively political. It +was to establish branch banks in every part of the world to further the +interests of German industry. Further, at a given moment, Germany might +have need of a loan in case of war, and the Universal Credit Company +would be there to supply the necessary aid to the great military nation. + +Herzog was not a man to be put down without resisting, and he made +supreme efforts to float his undertaking. He caused a number of unissued +shares to be sold on 'Change, and had them bought up by his own men, thus +creating a fictitious interest in the company. In a few days the shares +rose and were at a premium, simply through the jobbery to which Herzog +lent himself. + +Panine was little disposed to seek for explanations, and, besides, had +such unbounded faith in his partner that he suspected nothing. He +remained in perfect tranquillity. He had increased his expenditure, and +his household was on a royal footing. Micheline's sweetness emboldened +him; he no longer took the trouble of dissimulating, and treated his +young wife with perfect indifference. + +Jeanne and Serge met every day at the little house in the Avenue Maillot. +Cayrol was too much engaged with the new anxieties which Herzog caused +him, to look after his wife, and left her quite free to amuse herself. +Besides, he had not the least suspicion. Jeanne, like all guilty women, +overwhelmed him with kind attentions, which the good man mistook for +proofs of love. The fatal passion was growing daily stronger in the +young woman's heart, and she would have found it impossible to have given +up her dishonorable happiness with Panine. She felt herself capable of +doing anything to preserve her lover. + +Jeanne had already said, "Oh! if we were but free!" And they formed +projects. They would go away to Lake Lugano, and, in a villa hidden by +trees and shrubs, would enjoy the pleasures of being indissolubly united. +The woman was more eager than the man in giving way to these visions of +happiness. She sometimes said, "What hinders us now? Let us go." But +Serge, prudent and discreet, even in the most affectionate moments, led +Jeanne to take a more sensible view. What was the use of a scandal? Did +they not belong to each other? + +Then the young woman reproached him for not loving her as much as she +loved him. She was tired of dissimulating; her husband was an object of +horror to her, and she had to tell him untruths and submit to his +caresses which were revolting to her. Serge calmed her with a kiss, and +bade her wait awhile. + +Pierre, rendered anxious on hearing that Serge had joined Herzog in his +dangerous financial speculations, had left his mines and had just +arrived. The letters which Micheline addressed to the friend of her +youth, her enforced confidant in trouble, were calm and resigned. Full +of pride, she had carefully hidden from Pierre the cause of her troubles. +He was the last person by whom she would like to be pitied, and her +letters had represented Serge as repentant and full of good feeling. +Marechal, for similar reasons, had kept his friend in the dark. He +feared Pierre's interference, and he wished to spare Madame Desvarennes +the grief of seeing her adopted son quarreling with her son-in-law. + +But the placards announcing the establishment of the Universal Credit +Company made their way into the provinces, and one morning Pierre found +some stuck on the walls of his establishment. Seeing the name of Panine, +and not that of Cayrol, Pierre shuddered. The unpleasant ideas which he +experienced formerly when Herzog was introduced to the Desvarennes +recurred to his mind. He wrote to the mistress to ask what was going on, +and not receiving an answer, he started off without hesitation for Paris. + +He found Madame Desvarennes in a terrible state of excitement. The +shares had just fallen a hundred and twenty francs. A panic had ensued. +The affair was considered as absolutely lost, and the shareholders were +aggravating matters by wanting to sell out at once. + +Savinien was just coming away from the mistress's room. He wanted to see +the downfall of the Prince, whom he had always hated, looking upon him as +a usurper of his own rights upon the fortune of the Desvarennes. +He began lamenting to his aunt, when she turned upon him with unusual +harshness, and he felt bound as he said, laughing, to leave the "funereal +mansion." + +Cayrol, as much interested in the affairs of the Prince as if they were +his own, went backward and forward between the Rue Saint-Dominique and +the Rue Taitbout, pale and troubled, but without losing his head. He had +already saved the European Credit Company by separating it six weeks +before from the Universal Credit Company, notwithstanding Madame +Desvarennes's supplications to keep them together, in the hope that the +one would save the other. But Cayrol, practical, clear, and implacable, +had refused, for the first time, to obey Madame Desvarennes. He acted +with the resolution of a captain of a vessel, who throws overboard a +portion of the cargo to save the ship, the crew, and the rest of the +merchandise. He did well, and the European Credit was safe. The shares +had fallen a little, but a favorable reaction was already showing itself. +The name of Cayrol, and his presence at the head of affairs, had +reassured the public, and the shareholders gathered round him, passing a +vote of confidence. + +The banker, devoted to his task, next sought to save Panine, who was at +that very moment robbing him of his honor and happiness in the house of +the Avenue Maillot. + +Pierre, Cayrol, and Madame Desvarennes met in Marechal's private office. +Pierre declared that it was imperative to take strong measures and to +speak to the Prince. It was the duty of the mistress to enlighten +Panine, who was no doubt Herzog's dupe. + +Madame Desvarennes shook her head sadly. She feared that Serge was not a +dupe but an accomplice. And what could she tell him? Let him ruin +himself! He would not believe her. She knew how he received her advice +and bore her remonstrances. + +An explanation between her and Serge was impossible, and her interference +would only hurry him into the abyss. + +"Well, then, I will speak to him," said Pierre, resolutely. + +"No," said Madame Desvarennes, "not you! Only one here can tell him +efficaciously what he must hear, and that is Cayrol. Let us above all +things keep guard over our words and our behavior. On no account must +Micheline suspect anything." + +Thus, at the most solemn moments, when fortune and honor, perhaps, were +compromised, the mother thought of her daughter's welfare and happiness. + +Cayrol went up to the Prince's rooms. He had just come in, and was +opening his letters, while having a cigarette in the smoking-room. A +door, covered by curtains, led to a back stair which opened into the +courtyard. Cayrol had gone up that way, feeling sure that by so doing he +would not meet Micheline. + +On seeing Jeanne's husband, Serge rose quickly. He feared that Cayrol +had discovered everything, and instinctively stepped backward. The +banker's manner soon undeceived him. He was serious, but not in a rage. +He had evidently come on business. + +"Well, my dear Cayrol," said the Prince, gayly, "what good fortune has +brought you here?" + +"If it is fortune, it is certainly not good fortune," answered the +banker, gravely. "I wish to have some talk with you, and I shall be +grateful if you will listen patiently." + +"Oh! oh!" said Serge. "How serious you are. You have some heavy +payments on hand, and want a little help, eh? I will speak to Herzog." + +Cayrol looked at the Prince in amazement. So he did not suspect +anything? Such carelessness and negligence frightened him. The banker +resolved to proceed clearly, and without beating about the bush; to do +away with such blind confidence a thunderbolt was necessary. + +"I have not come about my business, but yours," returned Cayrol. "The +Universal Credit Company is on the eve of disaster; there is still time +for you to withdraw safely and soundly from the sinking wreck. I bring +you the means." + +Serge laughed. + +"Thank you, Cayrol; you are very kind, my friend. I know your intentions +are good, but I don't believe a word you are saying. You have come from +Madame Desvarennes. You are both agreed that I shall give up the +Universal Credit, but I will not yield to any pressure. I know what I am +doing. Be easy." + +And quietly lighting another cigarette, he gracefully puffed the smoke +toward the ceiling. Cayrol did not trouble to argue, but took a +newspaper from his pocket and handed it to Panine, simply saying, "Read!" + +It was an article in a reliable financial paper prophesying the failure +of the Universal Credit Company, and basing its statements on irrefutable +calculations. Serge took the paper and looked over it. He turned pale +and crushed it in his hand. + +"What infamy!" cried he. "I know our adversaries are enraged. Yes, +they know that our new company is destined to crush them in the future, +and they are doing all they can to run us aground. Jealousy! Envy! +There is no other foundation for these rumors, and they are unworthy a +serious man's attention." + +"There is neither envy nor jealousy. All is true," said Cayrol. "You +will admit that I am your sincere friend? Well, I swear to you that the +situation is terrible, and you must resign your directorship of the +Universal Credit without loss of time. There's not a moment to lose. +Sit down and write your resignation." + +"Do you think I am a child to be led by the nose like that?" asked the +Prince, in a passion. "If you are sincere, Cayrol, as I wish to believe, +I also think you are a fool. You don't understand! As to drawing out of +the company, never! I have a lot of money invested in it." + +"Well, lose your money, Madame Desvarennes will pay you back. At least +you can save your name." + +"Ah, I see you are conniving with her!" exclaimed the Prince, loudly. +"Don't tell me another word, I don't believe you. I shall go straight to +the office, and I will speak to Herzog. 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. Herzog had furnished them splendidly, thinking that this +would give the shareholders a high opinion of the undertaking. How could +they have any doubts when they saw such splendid furniture and large +offices? How could they refuse to place their money in the hands of +speculators that could cover their floors with such soft carpets? The +porters, with their dark blue and red cloth liveries, and buttons with +the company's monogram on them, answered inquiries with haughty +condescension. Everything foretold success. It was in the air. You +could hear the cashier shovelling heaps of gold. The people who had +placed the Universal Credit Company on such a footing were either very +powerful or very impudent. + +Serge walked in, as he would have done at home, with his hat on, amid a +number of small shareholders, who had come full of anxiety after reading +the accounts in the newspapers, and who felt full of confidence after +seeing the splendor of the place. Panine reached Herzog's office, but +when about to open the door, loud voices struck his ear. The financier +was arguing with a director, and Panine listened. + +"The speculation is safe and sure," Herzog was saying. "The shares are +low, I know, because I have ceased to keep them up. I have given orders +in London, Vienna, and Berlin, and we are buying up all shares that are +offered in the market. I shall then run the shares up again, and we +shall realize an enormous sum. It is most simple." + +"But it is shady," said the other voice. + +"Why? I defend myself as I am attacked. The great banks seek to +deteriorate my stock. I buy in, and take it out of my adversaries. +Is it not just and lawful?" + +Panine breathed freely and felt reassured. The depreciation was caused +by Herzog; he had just said so. There was nothing to fear then. It was +just a trick of Herzog's, and the company would come out brighter than +ever. + +Serge went in. + +"Oh! here's Prince Panine," said Herzog. "Ask him what he thinks of the +matter. I defer to his judgment." + +"I don't want to know anything," said Serge. "I have full confidence in +you, my dear manager, and our business will prosper in your hands, I am +sure. Besides, I know the manoeuvres of our opponents, and I think every +financial means justifiable to answer them." + +"Ah! What did I say to you a few minutes ago?" cried Herzog, addressing +his questioner in a tone of triumph. "Let me act and you will see. +Besides, I don't want to keep you against your will," he added, harshly. +"You are at liberty to withdraw from us if you like." + +The other protested that what he had said was for the best interests of +all concerned. He did not dream of leaving the company; on the contrary, +they might rely on him. He appreciated the experience and ability of +Herzog too well to separate his fortune from his friend's. And, shaking +hands with the financier, he took his leave. + +"Come! What is all this clamor in the newspapers?" asked Serge, when he +found himself alone with Herzog. "Do you know that the articles +published are very perfidious?" + +"All the more perfidious because they are founded on truth," said the +financier, coldly. + +"What do you mean?" cried Serge, in alarm. + +"The truth. Do you think I am to tell you lies as I did to that idiot +who has just gone out? The Universal Credit has at this moment a screw +loose. But patience! I have an idea, and in a fortnight the shares will +have doubled in value. I have a splendid scheme in hand which will kill +the gas companies. It is a plan for lighting by magnesium. Its effect +will be startling. I shall publish sensational articles describing the +invention in the London and Brussels papers. Gas shares will fall very +low. I shall buy up all I can, and when I am master of the situation, I +shall announce that the threatened gas companies are buying up the +invention. Shares will rise again, and I shall realize a goodly sum, +which will be for the benefit of the Universal Credit." + +"But for such a formidable speculation foreign agents will require +security?" + +"I will offer it to them. I have here ten million francs' worth of +shares in the European Credit belonging to Cayrol. We will give the +cashier a joint receipt for them. The speculation will last three days. +It is safe, and when the result is achieved we will replace the shares, +and take back the receipt." + +"But," asked Serge, "is this plan of taking the shares which don't belong +to us legal?" + +"It is a transfer," said Herzog, with simplicity. "Besides, don't forget +that we have to do with Cayrol, that is to say with a partner." + +"Suppose we tell him of it," insisted the Prince. + +"No! The deuce! We should have to explain everything to him. He knows +what's what, and would find the idea too good, and want a share of the +spoil. No! Sign that, and don't be alarmed. The sheep will be back in +the fold before the shepherd comes to count them." + +A dark presentiment crossed Serge's mind, and he was afraid. At that +moment, when his fate was being decided, he hesitated to go deeper into +the rut where he had already been walking too long. He stood silent and +undecided. Confused thoughts crowded his brain; his temples throbbed, +and a buzzing noise sounded in his ears. But the thought of giving up +his liberty, and again subjecting himself to Madame Desvarennes's +protection was like the lash of a whip, and he blushed for having +hesitated. + +Herzog looked at him, and, smiling in a constrained way, said: + +"You, too, may give up the affair if you like. If I share it with you it +is because you are so closely allied to me. I don't so very much care to +cut the pear in two. Don't think that I am begging of you to be my +partner! Do as you like." + +Serge caught hold of the paper and, having signed it, handed it to the +financier. + +"All right," said Herzog. "I shall leave to-night and be absent three +days. Watch the money market. You will see the results of my +calculations." + +And shaking hands with the Prince, Herzog went to the cashier to get the +scrip and deposit the receipt. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +SIN GROWS BOLDER + +There was a party at Cayrol's. In the drawing-rooms of the mansion in +the Rue Taitbout everything was resplendent with lights, and there was +quite a profusion of flowers. Cayrol had thought of postponing the +party, but was afraid of rousing anxieties, and like an actor who, though +he has just lost his father, must play the following day, so Cayrol gave +his party and showed a smiling face, so as to prevent harm to his +business. + +Matters had taken a turn for the worse during the last three days. The +bold stroke, to carry out which Herzog had gone to London so as to be +more secret, had been got wind of. The fall of the shares had not taken +place. Working with considerable sums of money, the loss on the +difference was as great as the gains would have been. The shares +belonging to the European Credit Company had defrayed the cost of the +game. It was a disaster. Cayrol, in his anxiety, had applied for the +scrip and had only found the receipt given to the cashier. Although the +transaction was most irregular, Cayrol had not said anything; but, +utterly cast down, had gone to Madame Desvarennes to tell her of the +fact. + +The Prince was in bed, pretending to be ill. His wife, happily ignorant +of all that was going on, rejoiced secretly at his indisposition because +she was allowed to nurse him and have him all to herself. Panine, +alarmed at the check they had experienced, was expecting Herzog with +feverish impatience, and to keep out of sight had chosen the privacy of +his own room. + +Still, Cayrol had been allowed to see him, and with great circumspection +told him that his non-appearance at the same time that Herzog was absent +was most fatal for the Universal Credit Company. It was absolutely +necessary that he should be seen in public. He must come to his party, +and appear with a calm face. Serge promised to come, and had imposed on +Micheline the heavy task of accompanying him to Jeanne's. It was the +first time since her return from Nice that she had entered the house of +her husband's mistress. + +The concert was over, and a crowd of guests were coming from the large +drawing-room to the boudoir and little drawing-room. + +"The symphony is over. Ouf!" said Savinien, yawning. + +"You don't like music?" asked Marechal, with a laugh. + +"Yes, military music. But two hours of Schumann and Mendelssohn at high +pressure is too much for one man. But I say, Marechal, what do you think +of Mademoiselle Herzog's being at Cayrol's soiree. It is a little too +strong." + +"How so?" + +"Why, the father has bolted, and the daughter is preparing a dance. Each +has a different way of using their feet." + +"Very pretty, Monsieur Desvarennes, but I advise you to keep your flashes +of wit to yourself," said Marechal, seriously. "That may not suit +everybody." + +"Oh, Marechal, you, too, making a fuss!" + +And turning on his heel, he went to the refreshment table. + +Prince and Princess Panine were just coming in. Micheline was smiling, +and Serge was pale, though calm. Cayrol and Jeanne came toward them. +Everybody turned to look at them. Jeanne, without embarrassment, shook +hands with her friend. Cayrol bowed respectfully to Micheline. + +"Princess," he said, "will you honor me by taking my arm? You are just +in time, they are going to begin dancing." + +"Not myself, though, thank you," replied Micheline, with a sad smile, "I +am still very weak, but I will look on." + +And on Cayrol's arm she entered the large drawing-room. Serge followed +with Jeanne. + +The festivities were at their height. The orchestra was playing a waltz, +and in a whirl of silk and gauze the young people seemed to be thoroughly +enjoying themselves. + +Suzanne Herzog was sitting alone near a window, in a simple white dress, +and without a single ornament. Marechal had just approached her, and she +had welcomed him with a smile. + +"Are you not dancing to-night, Mademoiselle?" he asked. + +"I am waiting to be invited," she answered, sadly, "and, like sister +Anne, I see nobody coming. There are ugly reports abroad about my +father's fortune, and the Argonauts are drawing off." + +"Will you give me a dance?" said Marechal. "I don't dance to +perfection, never having practised much, but with a good will." + +"Thank you, Monsieur Marechal, I would rather talk. I am not very +cheerful to-night, and, believe me, I only came because Madame +Desvarennes wished it. I would rather have remained at home. Business +has gone wrong with my father by what I can hear, for I don't know what +goes on at the office. I feel more inclined to cry than to laugh. Not +that I regret the loss of money, you know; I don't care for it, but my +father must be in despair." + +Marechal listened silently to Suzanne, not daring to tell her what he +thought of Herzog, and respected the real ignorance or willing blindness +of the young girl who did not doubt her father's loyalty. + +The Princess, leaning on Cayrol's arm, had just finished promenading +round the rooms, when she perceived Suzanne and, leaving the banker, came +and seated herself beside her. Many of the guests looked at each other +and whispered words which Micheline did not hear, and if she had heard +would not have understood. "It is heroic!" some said. Others answered, +"It is the height of impudence." + +The Princess was talking with Suzanne and was looking at her husband who, +leaning against a door, was following Jeanne with his eyes. + +At a sign from Cayrol, Marechal left the room. The secretary joined +Madame Desvarennes, who had come with Pierre and had remained in Cayrol's +private office. During this party matters of moment were to be +discussed, and a consultation was about to take place between the +interested parties. On seeing Marechal enter, Madame only uttered one +word: + +"Cayrol?" + +"Here he is," answered the secretary. + +Cayrol came in, hurriedly. + +"Well," he asked, with great anxiety, "have you any news?" + +"Pierre has just come from London," answered the mistress. "What we +feared is true. Herzog, conjointly with my son-in-law, has made use of +the ten millions belonging to the European Credit." + +"Do you think that Herzog has really bolted?" inquired Marechal. + +"No! he is too deep for that," replied Cayrol. "He will return. He +knows that in compromising the Prince it is as if he had compromised the +firm of Desvarennes, therefore he is quite easy on the matter." + +"Can the one be saved without the other?" asked the mistress. + +"It is impossible. Herzog has so firmly bound up his interests with +those of the Prince that it will be necessary to extricate both or let +both perish together." + +"Well, we must save Herzog into the bargain, then!" said Madame +Desvarennes, coldly. "But by what means?" + +"These," answered Cayrol. "The shares taken away by Herzog, under the +security of the Prince's signature, were deposited by the shareholders. +When the Universal Credit removed to its new offices, these shares were +taken away by mistake. It will suffice to replace the scrip. I will +give back the receipt to the Prince and all trace of this deplorable +affair will be wiped out." + +"But the numbers of the shares will not be the same," said Madame +Desvarennes, accustomed to minute regularity in all operations. + +"We can explain the change by feigning a sale when they were high, and +buying them up when low. We will show a profit, and the shareholders +will not quarrel. Besides, I reserve the right of divulging Herzog's +fraud without implicating Panine, if the shareholders insist. Trust me, +I will catch Herzog another time. It is my stupid confidence in that man +which has been partly the cause of this disaster. I will make your +business mine and force him to shell out. I shall leave for London to- +night, by the 1.50 train. Promptness of action in such a case is the +first step toward success." + +"Thank you, Cayrol," said the mistress. "Have my daughter and the Prince +arrived?" + +"Yes, Serge is calm; he has more power over himself than I could have +believed." + +"What does it matter to him what is going on? Is it he who will feel the +blow? No. He knows that I shall go on working to keep him in idleness +and maintain him in luxury. I may think myself lucky if he is reclaimed +by this hard lesson, and does not again begin to rummage in other +people's safes, for then I should be unable to save him." + +The mistress rose and, with flashing eyes, walked up and down the room. + +"Oh, the wretch!" she said. "If ever my daughter ceases to come between +him and me!" + +A terrible gesture finished the sentence. + +Cayrol, Marechal, and Pierre looked at each other. The same thought came +to their minds, dark and fearful. In a paroxysm of rage this fond +mother, this energetic and passionate woman, would be capable of killing +any one. + +"You remember what I told you one day," murmured Marechal, approaching +Cayrol. + +"I would prefer the hatred of ten men to that of such a woman," answered +Cayrol. + +"Cayrol!" continued Madame Desvarennes, after a few moments of +meditation, "the conduct of the business of which you spoke to us a +little while ago depends solely on you, does it not?" + +"On me alone." + +"Do it at once, then, cost me what it may. Has it been noised abroad?" + +"No one has the slightest suspicion. I have not mentioned it to a living +soul," said the banker--"except to my wife," added he with a frankness +which drew a smile from Pierre. "But my wife and I are one." + +"What did she say?" asked Madame Desvarenes, looking straight at Cayrol. + +"If I had been the person concerned," he said, "she could not possibly +have been more affected. She loves you so much, Madame, you and those +belonging to you. She besought me to do all in my power to get the +Prince out of this scrape. She had tears in her eyes: And, truly, if I +did not feel bound to serve you from gratitude I would do it for her sake +and to give her pleasure. I was touched, I can assure you. Really, she +has a heart!" + +Marechal exchanged a look with Madame Desvarennes, who advanced toward +the banker, and shook him by the hand, saying: + +"Cayrol, you are truly a good man!" + +"I know it," said Cayrol, smiling to hide his emotion, "and you may rely +upon me." + +Micheline appeared on the threshold of the room. Through the half-open +door the dancers could be seen passing to and fro, and the sound of music +floated in the air. + +"What has become of you, mamma? I hear that you have been here for more +than an hour." + +"I was talking on business matters with these gentlemen," answered Madame +Desvarennes, smoothing from her brow the traces of her cares by an effort +of will. "But you, dear, how do you feel? Are you not tired?" + +"Not more so than usual," replied Micheline, looking round to follow the +movements of her husband, who was trying to reach Jeanne. + +"Why did you come to this party? It was unwise." + +"Serge wished me to come, and I did not care to let him come without me." + +"Eh! dear me!" exclaimed Madame Desvarennes. "Let him do what he likes. +Men are savages. When you are ill it won't hurt him." + +"I am not ill, and I won't be," resumed Micheline, warmly. "We are going +away now." + +She motioned to Serge with her fan. Panine came to her. + +"You will take me home, won't you, Serge?" + +"Certainly, dear one," answered Serge. + +Jeanne, who was listening at a distance, raised her hand to her forehead +as a sign that she wanted him. A feeling of surprise came over the +Prince, and he did not understand what she meant. Micheline had seen the +sign. A deadly pallor spread over her features, and a cold perspiration +broke out on her forehead. She felt so ill that she could have cried +out. It was the first time she had seen Serge and Jeanne together since +the dreadful discovery at Nice. She had avoided witnessing their +meeting, feeling uncertain of herself, and fearing to lose her self- +control. But seeing the two lovers before her, devouring each other with +their looks, and making signs to each other, made her feel most terribly +jealous and angry. + +Serge had decided to obey the imperious signs which Jeanne made to him, +and turning toward his wife, said: + +"I remember now, my dear, that before going home I must call at the club. +I promised, and cannot put it off. Excuse my not going with you, and ask +your mother to accompany you." + +"Very well," said Micheline, in a trembling voice. "I will ask her. You +are not going just yet?" + +"In a moment." + +"I, too, shall leave in a moment." + +The young wife did not want to lose one detail of the horrible comedy +being played under her very eyes. She remained to learn, unawares, the +reason for which Jeanne kept her husband. + +Not thinking that he was watched, Serge had gone across to Jeanne, and +affecting a smile, inquired: + +"What is the matter?" + +"Serious news." And she explained that she must speak to her lover that +evening. + +"Where?" Serge asked, with astonishment. + +"Here," answered Jeanne. + +"But your husband?" the Prince said. + +"Is leaving in an hour. Our guests will not remain late. Go to the +garden, and wait in the pavilion. The door of the back stairs leading to +my dressing-room will be open. When everybody has gone, come up." + +"Take care; we are observed," said Serge, uneasily. + +And they began to laugh with affectation and talked aloud about frivolous +things, as if nothing serious were occupying their thoughts. Cayrol had +come back again. He went up to Madame Desvarennes, who was talking with +her daughter, and, full of business, thoughtlessly said: + +"I will telegraph you as soon as I reach London." + +"Are you going away?" inquired Micheline, a light dawning on her mind. + +"Yes," said Cayrol; "I have an important matter to settle." + +"And when do you start?" continued Micheline, in such a changed voice +that her mother was frightened. + +"In a moment," answered the banker. "Allow me to leave you. I have +several orders to give." + +And leaving the boudoir, he regained the little drawing-room. + +Micheline, with clinched hands and fixed gaze, was saying to herself: + +"She will be alone to-night, and has asked him to come to her. He told +me an untruth about his having to go to the club. He is going to see +her!" + +And passing her hand across her brow, as if to drive away an unpleasant +thought, the young wife remained silent, dismayed and crushed. + +"Micheline, what is the matter with you?" asked Madame Desvarennes, +seizing her daughter's hand, which was icy cold. + +"Nothing," stammered Micheline. + +"You are ill, I see. Come, let us go home. Come and kiss Jeanne--" + +"I!" cried Micheline, with horror, instinctively recoiling as if +dreading some impure contact. + +Madame Desvarennes became suddenly cold and calm. She foresaw a terrible +revelation, and observing her daughter narrowly, said: + +"Why do you cry out when I speak of your kissing Jeanne? Whatever is the +matter?" + +Micheline grasped her mother's arm, and pointed to Serge and Jeanne, who +were in the little drawing-room, laughing and talking, surrounded by a +group of people, yet alone. + +"Look at them!" she cried. + +"What do you mean?" exclaimed the mother in agony. She read the truth +in her daughter's eyes. + +"You know--"she began. + +"That he is her lover," cried Micheline, interrupting her. "Don't you +see that I am dying through it?" she added, sobbing bitterly and falling +into her mother's arms. + +The mistress carried her as if she had been a child into Cayrol's private +office, and shut the door. Then, kneeling beside the couch on which +Micheline was stretched, she gave vent to her grief. She begged her +daughter to speak to her, and warmed her hands with kisses; then, seeing +her still cold and motionless, she was frightened, and wanted to call for +help. + +"No; be quiet!" murmured Micheline, recovering. "Let no one know. +I ought to have held my peace; but I have suffered so much I could not +help myself. + +"My life is blasted, you see. Take me away; save me from this infamy! +Jeanne, my sister, and Serge. Oh! make me forget it! For pity's sake, +mamma, you who are so strong, you who have always done what you wished, +take from my heart all the pain that is there!" + +Madame Desvarennes, overcome by such a load of grief, lost command of +herself, and, quite brokenhearted, began to cry and moan. + +"O God! Micheline, my poor child! you were suffering so and did not tell +me. Oh! I knew you no longer trusted your old mother. And I stupidly +did not guess it! I said to myself, at least she knows nothing about it, +and sacrificed everything to keep the knowledge of their wrong-doing from +you. Don't cry any more, darling, you will break my heart. I, who would +have given up everything in the world to see you happy! Oh, I have loved +you too much! How I am punished!" + +"It is I who am punished," said Micheline, sobbing, "for not obeying you. +Ah! children ought always to heed their mother. She divines the danger. +Is it not too horrible, mamma? I, who have sacrificed everything for +him, to think that he does not love me, and never will love me! What +will my life be without confidence, hope, or affection? I am too +unhappy. It would be better to die!" + +"Die! you!" cried her mother, whose eyes, wet with tears, dried in a +moment, as if by an inward fire. "Die! Come, don't talk such nonsense! +Because a man treats you with scorn and betrays you? Are men worth dying +for? No, you shall live, my darling, with your old mother. You shall +have a deed of separation from your husband." + +"And he will be free," exclaimed Micheline, angrily. "He will go on +loving her! Oh! I cannot bear that thought. Do you know, what I am +going to tell you seems awful. I love him so much, that I would rather +see him dead than unfaithful." + +Madame Desvarennes was struck, and remained silent. Serge dead! That +idea had already occurred to her as a dream of deliverance. It came upon +her peremptorily, violently, irresistibly. She repelled it with an +effort. + +"I can never think of him but as vile and odious," continued Micheline. +"Every day his sin will seem more dastardly and his hypocrisy more base. +There, a little while ago, he was smiling; and do you know why? Because +Cayrol is going away, and during his absence Serge will return here +tonight." + +"Who told you?" + +"I read it in his joyful looks. I love him. He cannot hide anything +from me. A traitor to me, and a traitor toward his friend, that is the +man whom--I am ashamed to own it--I love!" + +"Compose yourself! Someone is coming," said Madame Desvarennes, and at +the same time the door opened and Jeanne appeared, followed by Marechal, +who was anxious at their disappearance. + +"Is Micheline ill?" inquired Madame Cayrol, coming forward. + +"No; it is nothing. Just a little fatigue," said Madame Desvarennes. +"Marechal, give my daughter your arm, and take her to her carriage. I +shall be down in a minute." + +And holding Jeanne by the hand to prevent her following Micheline, she +added: + +"Stay; I have something to say to you." + +Jeanne looked surprised. Madame Desvarennes was silent for a moment. +She was thinking about Serge coming there that night. She had only to +say one word to Cayrol to prevent his going away. The life of this +wretch was entirely in her hands then! But Jeanne! Was she going to +ruin her? Had she the right thus to destroy one who had struggled and +had defended herself? Would it be just? Jeanne had been led on against +her will. She must question her. If the poor girl were suffering, if +she repented, she must spare her. + +Madame Desvarennes, having thus made up her mind, turned toward Jeanne +who was waiting. + +"It is a long time since I have seen you, my dear, and I find you happy +and smiling. It is the first time since your marriage that you have +seemed so happy." + +Jeanne looked at the mistress without answering. In these words she +detected irony. + +"You have found peace," continued Madame Desvarennes, looking steadfastly +at Jeanne with her piercing eyes. "You see, my dear, when you have a +clear conscience--for you have nothing to reproach yourself with?" + +Jeanne saw in this sentence a question and not an affirmation. She +answered, boldly: + +"Nothing!" + +"You know that I love you, and would be most lenient," continued Madame +Desvarennes, sweetly, "and that you might safely confide in me!" + +"I have nothing to fear, having nothing to tell," said Jeanne. + +"Nothing?" repeated the mistress, with emphasis. + +"Nothing," affirmed Jeanne. + +Madame Desvarennes once more looked at her adopted daughter as if she +would read her very soul. She found her quite calm. + +"Very well, then!" said she, hastily walking toward the door. + +"Are you going already?" asked Jeanne, offering her brow to Madame +Desvarennes's lips. + +"Yes, good-by!" said the latter, with an icy kiss. + +Jeanne, without again turning round, went into the drawing-room. At the +same moment, Cayrol, in a travelling-coat, entered the office, followed +by Pierre. + +"Here I am, quite ready," said the banker to Madame Desvarennes. "Have +you any new suggestion to make to me, or anything else to say?" + +"Yes," replied Madame Desvarennes, in a stern voice which made Cayrol +start. + +"Then make haste. I have only a moment to spare, and you know the train +waits for no one." + +"You will not go!" + +Cayrol, in amazement, answered: + +"Do you mean it? Your interests are at stake yonder." + +"Your honor is in danger here," cried the mistress, vehemently. + +"My honor!" repeated Cayrol, starting back. "Madame, do you know what +you are saying?" + +"Ay!" answered Madame Desvarennes. "And do you remember what I promised +you? I undertook to warn you, myself, if ever the day came when you +would be threatened." + +"Well?" questioned Cayrol, turning quite livid. + +"Well! I keep my promise. If you wish to know who your rival is, come +home to-night." + +Some inaudible words rattled in Cayrol's throat. + +"A rival! in my house! Can Jeanne be guilty? Do you know, if it is +true I will kill them both!" + +"Deal with them as your conscience dictates," said Madame Desvarennes. +"I have acted according to mine." + +Pierre, hitherto dumb with horror at the scene of which he had been a +witness, shook off his stupor, and going up to Madame Desvarennes, said: + +"Madame, do you know that what you have just done is frightful!" + +"How? That man will be acting within his rights the same as I am. They +are seeking to take away his wife, and they are killing my daughter, and +dishonoring me! We are defending ourselves! Woe to those who are guilty +of the crime!" + +Cayrol had fallen, as if thunderstruck, on a chair, with haggard eyes; +his voice was gone, and he looked the image of despair. Madame +Desvarennes's words came back to him like the refrain of a hated song. +To himself he kept repeating, without being able to chase away the one +haunting thought: "Her lover, to-night, at your house!" He felt as if he +were going mad. He was afraid he should not have time to wreak his +vengeance. He made a terrible effort, and, moaning with grief, he arose. + +"Take care!" said Pierre. "Here's your wife." + +Cayrol eyed Jeanne, who was approaching. Burning tears came to his eyes. +He murmured: + +"She, with a look so pure, and a face so calm! Is it possible?" + +He nodded a farewell to Pierre and Madame Desvarennes, who were leaving, +and recovering himself, advanced to meet Jeanne. + +"Are you off?" she inquired. "You know you have no time to lose!" + +Cayrol shuddered. She seemed anxious to get rid of him. + +"I have still a few minutes to spend with you," he said, with emotion. +"You see, Jeanne, I am sad at going away alone. It is the first time I +have left you. In a moment our guests will be gone--I beg of you, come +with me!" + +Jeanne smiled. "But you see, dear, I am in evening dress." + +"The night of our marriage I brought you away from Cernay like that. +Wrap yourself up in your furs, and come! Give me this proof of +affection. I deserve it. I am not a bad man--and I love you so!" + +Jeanne frowned. This pressing vexed her. + +"This is childish," she said. "You will return the day after tomorrow, +and I am tired. Have some pity for me." + +"You refuse?" asked Cayrol, becoming gloomy and serious. + +Jeanne touched his face slightly with her white hand. + +"Come! Don't leave me in a temper! You won't miss me much, you will +sleep all the way. Good-by!" + +Cayrol kissed her; in a choking voice, he said: + +"Good-by!" + +And he left her. + +Jeanne's face brightened, as she stood listening for a moment and heard +the carriage which contained her husband rolling away. Uttering a sigh +of relief, she murmured: + +"At last!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE CRISIS + +Jeanne had just taken off her ball-dress to put on a dressing-gown of +Oriental cloth richly embroidered with silk flowers. Leaning her elbows +on the mantelpiece, and breathing heavily, she was waiting. Her maid +came in, bringing a second lamp. The additional light displayed the rich +warm hangings of ruby plush embroidered in dull gold. The bed seemed one +mass of lace. + +"Has everybody gone?" asked Jeanne, pretending to yawn. + +"Messieurs Le Brede and Du Tremblay, the last guests, are just putting on +their overcoats," answered the maid. "But Monsieur Pierre Delarue has +come back, and is asking whether Madame will speak with him for a +moment." + +"Monsieur Delarue?" repeated Jeanne, with astonishment. + +"He says he has something important to say to Madame." + +"Where is he?" asked Jeanne. + +"There, in the gallery. The lights were being put out in the drawing- +room." + +"Well, show him in." + +The maid went out. Jeanne, much puzzled, asked herself, what could have +brought Pierre back? It must certainly be something very important. She +had always felt somewhat awed in Pierre's presence. At that moment the +idea of being face to face with the young man was most distressing to +her. + +A curtain was lifted and Pierre appeared. He remained silent and +confused at the entrance of the room, his courage had deserted him. + +"Well," said Jeanne, with assumed stiffness, "whatever is the matter, my +friend?" + +"The matter is, my dear Jeanne," began Pierre, "that--" + +But the explanation did not seem so very easy to give, for he stopped and +could not go on. + +"That?" repeated Madame Cayrol. + +"I beg your pardon," resumed Pierre. "I am greatly embarrassed. In +coming here I obeyed a sudden impulse. I did not think of the manner in +which I should tell you what I have to say, and I see that I shall have +to run a great risk of offending you." + +Jeanne assumed a haughty air. + +"Well, but, my dear friend, if what you have to say is so difficult, +don't say it." + +"Impossible!" retorted Pierre. "My silence would cause irreparable +mischief. In mercy, Jeanne, make my task easier! Meet me half way! You +have projects for to-night which are known. Danger threatens you. Take +care!" + +Jeanne shuddered. But controlling herself, she answered, laughing +nervously: + +"What rubbish are you talking about? I am at home, surrounded by my +servants, and I have nothing to fear. I beg of you to believe me." + +"You deny it!" exclaimed Pierre. "I expected as much. But you are only +taking useless trouble. Come, Jeanne, I am the friend of your childhood; +you have no reason to fear aught from me. I am only trying to be of use +to you. You must know that, by my coming here, I know all. Jeanne, +listen to me!" + +"Are you mad?" interrupted the young woman, proudly, "or are you taking +part in some absurd joke?" + +"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. Your husband, whom you think far +away, is within call, perhaps, and will come and take you unawares. Is +not that a serious matter?" + +A frown overspread her face, and in an ungovernable rage she stepped +forward, determined not to give in, and exclaimed: + +"Go away! or I shall call for assistance!" + +"Don't call, it would look bad!" resumed Pierre, calmly. "On the +contrary, let the servants get out of the way, and get the Prince to go +if he be here, or if he has not yet arrived, prevent his coming in. So +long as I remain here you will dissimulate your fear and will not take +any precautions. I will leave you, then. Adieu, Jeanne! Believe that I +wished to render you a service, and be sure that when I have crossed the +threshold of this door I shall have forgotten everything that I may have +said." + +Pierre bowed, and, lifting the heavy curtain which hid the door leading +to the gallery, went out. + +He had hardly gone when the opposite door opened, and Serge entered the +room. The young woman rushed into his arms and whispered into his ear, +with trembling lips: + +"Serge, we are lost!" + +"I was there," answered Panine. "I heard all." + +"What shall we do?" cried Jeanne, terrified. + +"Go away at once. To remain here a moment longer is an imprudence." + +"And I, if I remain, what shall I say to Cayrol when he comes?" + +"Your husband!" said Serge, bitterly. "He loves you, he will forgive +you." + +"I know; but then we two shall be separated for ever. Is that what you +desire?" + +"And what can I do?" cried Serge, in despair. "Everything around me is +giving way! Fortune, which has been my one aim in life, is escaping from +me. The family which I have scorned is forsaking me. The friendship +which I have betrayed overwhelms me. There is nothing left to me." + +"And my love, my devotion?" exclaimed Jeanne, passionately. "Do you +think that I will leave you? We must go away. I asked you long ago. +You resisted; the moment has now come. Be easy! Madame Desvarennes will +pay and save your name. In exchange you will give her back her daughter. +You don't care about her, because you love me. I am your real wife; she +who ought to share your life. Well, I take back my rights. I pay for +them with my honor. I break all ties which could hold me back. I am +yours, Serge! Our sin and misfortune will bind us more closely than any +laws could." + +"Think, that with me you will have to endure poverty, and, perhaps, +misery," said the Prince, moved by the young woman's infatuation. + +"My love will make you forget everything!" + +"You will not feel regret or remorse?" + +"Never, so long as you love me." + +"Come, then," said the Prince, taking Jeanne in his arms. "And if life +is too hard--" + +"Well," added Jeanne, finishing the sentence with sparkling eyes, "we +will seek refuge together in death! Come!" + +Serge bolted the door, through which Pierre had passed, and which alone +communicated with the other apartments. Then, taking his mistress by the +hand, he went with her into the dressing-room. Jeanne threw a dark cloak +round her shoulders, put a hat on her head, and without taking either +money, jewels, lace, or, in fact, anything that she had received from +Cayrol, they went down the little back stairs. + +It was very dark. Jeanne did not take a light, as she did not care to +attract attention, so they had to feel every step of the way as quietly +as possible, striving not to make the least noise, holding their breath, +and with beating hearts. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, +Jeanne stretched out her hand, and sought the handle of the door which +opened into the courtyard. She turned it, but the door would not open. +She pushed, but it did not give way. Jeanne uttered a low groan. Serge +shook it vigorously, but it would not open. + +"It has been fastened on the outside," he whispered. + +"Fastened?" murmured Jeanne, seized with fear. "Fastened, and by whom?" + +Serge did not answer. The idea that Cayrol had done it came to his mind +at once. The husband lying in wait, had seen him enter, and to prevent +his escaping from his vengeance had cut off all means of retreating. + +Silently, they went upstairs again, into the room through the dressing- +room. Jeanne took off her bonnet and cloak, and sank into an armchair. + +"I must get away!" said Serge, with suppressed rage; and he walked +toward the door of the gallery. + +"No! don't open that," cried Jeanne, excitedly. + +And with a frightened look, she added: + +"What if he were behind the door?" + +At the same moment, as if Jeanne's voice had indeed evoked Cayrol, a +heavy step was heard approaching along the gallery, a hand tried to open +the bolted door. Serge and Jeanne remained motionless, waiting. + +"Jeanne!" called the voice of Cayrol from the outside, sounding +mournfully in the silence, "Jeanne, open!" + +And with his fist he knocked imperatively on the woodwork. + +"I know you are there! Open, I say!" he cried, with increasing rage. +"If you don't open the door, I'll--" + +"Go! I beseech you!" whispered Jeanne, in Panine's ear. "Go downstairs +again, and break open the door. You won't find any one there now." + +"Perhaps he has stationed some one there," answered Serge. "Besides, I +won't leave you here alone exposed to his violence." + +"You are not alone. I can hear you talking!" said Cayrol, beside +himself. "I shall break open this door!" + +The husband made a tremendous effort. Under the pressure of his heavy +weight the lock gave way. With a bound he was in the middle of the room. +Jeanne threw herself before him; she no longer trembled. Cayrol took +another step and fixed his glaring eyes on the man whom he sought, +uttering a fearful oath. + +"Serge!" cried he. "I might have guessed it. It is not only money of +which you are robbing me, you villain!" + +Panine turned horribly pale, and advanced toward Cayrol, despite Jeanne, +who was clinging to him. + +"Don't insult me; it is superfluous," said he. "My life belongs to you; +you can take it. I shall be at your service whenever you please." + +Cayrol burst into a fearful laugh. + +"Ah! a duel! Come! Am I a gentleman? I am a plebeian! a rustic! a +cowherd! you know that! I have you now! I am going to smash you!" + +He looked round the room as if seeking a weapon, and caught sight of the +heavy fire-dogs. He caught up one with a cry of triumph, and, +brandishing it like a club, rushed at Serge. + +More rapid than he, Jeanne threw herself before her lover. She stretched +out her arms, and with a sharp voice, and the look of a she-wolf +defending her cubs, + +"Keep behind me," said she to Serge; "he loves me and will not dare to +strike!" + +Cayrol had stopped. At these words he uttered a loud cry: "wretched +woman! You first, then!" + +Raising his weapon, he was about to strike, when his eyes met Jeanne's. +The young woman was smiling, happy to die for her lover. Her pale face +beamed from out her black hair with weird beauty. Cayrol trembled. That +look which he had loved, would he never see it again? That rosy mouth, +whose smile he cherished, would it be hushed in death? A thousand +thoughts of happy days came to his mind. His arm fell. A bitter flood +rushed from his heart to his eyes; the iron dropped heavily from his hand +on to the floor, and the poor man, overcome, sobbing, and ashamed of his +weakness, fell senseless on a couch. + +Jeanne did not utter a word. By a sign she showed Serge the door, which +was open, and with a swollen heart she leaned on the mantelpiece, waiting +for the unfortunate man, from whom she had received such a deep and sad +proof of love, to come back to life. + +Serge had disappeared. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +"WHEN ROGUES FALL OUT" + +The night seemed long to Madame Desvarennes. Agitated and feverish, she +listened through the silence, expecting every moment to hear some fearful +news. In fancy she saw Cayrol entering his wife's room like a madman, +unawares. She seemed to hear a cry of rage, answered by a sigh of +terror; then a double shot resounded, the room filled with smoke, and, +struck down in their guilty love, Serge and Jeanne rolled in death, +interlaced in each other's arms, like Paolo and Francesca de Rimini, +those sad lovers of whom Dante tells us. + +Hour after hour passed; not a sound disturbed the mansion. The Prince +had not come in. Madame Desvarennes, unable to lie in bed, arose, and +now and again, to pass the time, stole on tiptoe to her daughter's room. +Micheline, thoroughly exhausted with fatigue and emotion, had fallen +asleep on her pillow, which was wet with tears. + +Bending over her, by the light of the lamp, the mistress gazed at +Micheline's pale face, and a sigh rose to her lips. + +"She is still young," she thought; "she may begin life afresh. The +remembrance of these sad days will be wiped out, and I shall see her +revive and smile again. That wretch was nearly the death of her." + +And the image of Serge and Jeanne stretched beside each other in the room +full of smoke came before her eyes again. She shook her head to chase +the importunate vision away, and noiselessly regained her own apartment. + +The day dawned pale and bleak. Madame Desvarennes opened her window and +cooled her burning brow in the fresh morning air. The birds were awake, +and were singing on the trees in the garden. + +Little by little, the distant sound of wheels rolling by was heard. The +city was awakening from its sleep. + +Madame Desvarennes rang and asked for Marechal. The secretary appeared +instantly. He, too, had shared the anxieties and fears of the mistress, +and had risen early. Madame Desvarennes greeted him with a grateful +smile. She felt that she was really loved by this good fellow, who +understood her so thoroughly. She begged him to go to Cayrol's, and gain +some information, without giving him further details, and she waited, +walking up and down the room to calm the fever of her mind. + +On leaving the house in the Rue Taitbout, Serge felt bewildered, not +daring to go home, and unable to decide on any plan; yet feeling that it +was necessary to fix on something without delay, he reached the club. +The walk did him good, and restored his physical equilibrium. He was +thankful to be alive after such a narrow escape. He went upstairs with a +comparatively light step, and tossed his overcoat to a very sleepy +footman who had risen to receive him. He went into the card-room. +Baccarat was just finishing. It was three o'clock in the morning. The +appearance of the Prince lent the game a little fresh animation. Serge +plunged into it as if it were a battle. Luck was on his side. In a +short time he cleared the bank: a thousand louis. One by one the players +retired. Panine, left alone, threw himself on a couch and slept for a +few hours, but it was not a refreshing sleep. On the contrary, it made +him feel more tired. + +The day servants disturbed him when they came in to sweep the rooms and +open the windows. He went into the lavatory, and there bathed his face. +When his ablutions were over he wrote a note to Jeanne, saying that he +had reflected, and could not possibly let her go away with him. He +implored her to do all in her power to forget him. He gave this letter +to one of the messengers, and told him to give it into the hands of +Madame Cayrol's maid, and to none other. + +The care of a woman and the worry of another household seemed unbearable +to him. Besides, what could he do with Jeanne? The presence of his +mistress would prevent his being able to go back to Micheline. And now +he felt that his only hope of safety was in Micheline's love for him. + +But first of all he must go and see if Herzog had returned, and ascertain +the real facts of the position in regard to the Universal Credit Company. + +Herzog occupied a little house on the Boulevard Haussmann, which he had +hired furnished from some Americans. The loud luxury of the Yankees had +not frightened him. On the contrary, he held that the gay colors of the +furniture and the glitter of the gilded cornices were bound to have a +fascination for prospective shareholders. Suzanne had reserved a little +corner for herself, modestly hung with muslin and furnished with simple +taste, which was a great contrast to the loud appearance of the other +part of the house. + +On arriving, Serge found a stableman washing a victoria. Herzog had +returned. The Prince quietly went up the steps, and had himself +announced. + +The financier was sitting in his study by the window, looking through the +newspapers. When Serge entered he rose. The two men stood facing each +other for a moment. The Prince was the first to speak. + +"How is it that you have kept me without news during your absence?" +asked he, harshly. + +"Because," replied Herzog, calmly, "the only news I had was not good +news." + +"At least I should have known it." + +"Would the result of the operation have been different?" + +"You have led me like a child in this affair," Serge continued, becoming +animated. "I did not know where I was going. You made me promises, how +have you kept them?" + +"As I was able," quietly answered Herzog. "Play has its chances. One +seeks Austerlitz and finds Waterloo." + +"But," cried the Prince, angrily, "the shares which you sold ought not to +have gone out of your hands." + +"You believed that?" retorted the financier, ironically. "If they ought +not to have gone out of my hands it was hardly worth while putting them +into them." + +"In short," said Panine, eager to find some responsible party on whom he +could pour out all the bitterness of his misfortune, "you took a mean +advantage of me." + +"Good! I expected you to say that!" returned Herzog, smiling. "If the +business had succeeded, you would have accepted your share of the spoil +without any scruples, and would have felt ready to crown me. It has +failed; you are trying to get out of the responsibility, and are on the +point of treating me as if I were a swindler. Still, the affair would +not have been more honest in the first instance than in the second, but +success embellishes everything." + +Serge looked hard at Herzog. + +"What is there to prove," replied he, "that this speculation, which +brings ruin and loss to me, does not enrich you?" + +"Ungrateful fellow!" observed the financier, ironically, "you suspect +me!" + +"Of having robbed me!" cried Serge, in a rage. "Why not?" + +Herzog, for a moment, lost his temper and turned red in the face. He +seized Panine violently by the arm, and said: + +"Gently, Prince; whatever insults you heap upon me must be shared by you. +You are my partner." + +"Scoundrel!" yelled Panine, exasperated at being held by Herzog. + +"Personalities," said the financier, in a jesting tone. "Then I take my +leave!" + +And loosing his hold of the Prince, he went toward the door. + +Serge sprang after him, exclaiming: + +"You shall not leave this room until you have given me the means of +rectifying this disaster." + +"Then let us talk sensibly, as boon companions," said Herzog. "I know of +a marvellous move by which we can get out of the difficulty. Let us +boldly call a general meeting. I will explain the thing, and amaze +everybody. We shall get a vote of confidence for the past, with funds +for the future. We shall be as white as snow, and the game is played. +Are you in with me?" + +"Enough," replied the Prince, intensely disgusted. "It does not suit me +to do a yet more shameful thing in order to get out of this trouble. It +is no use arguing further; we are lost." + +"Only the weak allow themselves to be lost!" exclaimed the financier. +"The strong defend themselves. You may give in if you like; I won't. +Three times have I been ruined and three times have I risen again. My +head is good! I am down now. I shall rise again, and when I am well +off, and have a few millions to spare, I will settle old debts. +Everybody will be astonished because they won't expect it, and I shall be +more thought of than if I had paid up at the time." + +"And if you are not allowed to go free?" asked Serge. "What if they +arrest you?" + +"I shall be in Aix-la-Chapelle to-night," said Herzog. "From there I +shall treat with the shareholders of the Universal Credit. People judge +things better at a distance. Are you coming with me?" + +"No," replied Serge, in a low voice. + +"You are wrong. Fortune is capricious, and in six months we may be +richer than we ever have been. But as you have decided, let me give you +a piece of advice which will be worth the money you have lost. Confess +all to your wife; she can get you out of this difficulty." + +The financier held out a hand to Serge which he did not take. + +"Ah! pride!" murmured Herzog. "After all it is your right--It is you +who pay!" + +Without answering a word the Prince went out. + +At that same hour, Madame Desvarennes, tired by long waiting, was pacing +up and down her little drawing-room. A door opened and Marechal, the +long-looked for messenger, appeared. He had been to Cayrol's, but could +not see him. The banker, who had shut himself up in his private office +where he had worked all night, had given orders that no one should +interrupt him. And as Madame Desvarennes seemed to have a question on +her lips which she dared not utter, Marechal added that nothing unusual +seemed to have happened at the house. + +But as the mistress was thanking her secretary, the great gate swung on +its hinges, and a carriage rolled into the courtyard. Marechal flew to +the window, and uttered one word, + +"Cayrol!" + +Madame Desvarennes motioned to him to leave her, and the banker appeared +on the threshold. + +At a glance the mistress saw the ravages which the terrible night he had +passed through had caused. Yesterday, the banker was rosy, firm, and +upright as an oak, now he was bent, and withered like an old man. His +hair had become gray about the temples, as if scorched by his burning +thoughts. He was only the shadow of himself. + +Madame Desvarennes advanced toward him, and in one word asked a world of +questions. + +"Well?" she said. + +Cayrol, gloomy and fierce, raised his eyes to the mistress, and answered: + +"Nothing!" + +"Did he not come?" + +"Yes, he came. But I had not the necessary energy to kill him. I +thought it was an easier matter to become a murderer. And you thought so +too, eh?" + +"Cayrol!" cried Madame Desvarennes, shuddering, and troubled to find +that she had been so easily understood by him whom she had armed on her +behalf. + +"The opportunity was a rare one, though," continued Cayrol, getting +excited. "Fancy; I found them together under my own roof. The law +allowed me, if not the actual right to kill them, at least an excuse if +I did so. Well, at the decisive moment, when I ought to have struck the +blow, my heart failed me. He lives, and Jeanne loves him." + +There was a pause. + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Get rid of him in another way," answered Cayrol. "I had only two ways +of killing him. One was to catch him in my own house, the other to call +him out. My will failed me in the one case; my want of skill would fail +me in the other. I will not fight Serge. Not because I fear death, for +my life is blighted, and I don't value it; but if I were dead, Jeanne +would belong to him, and I could not bear the thought of that even in +death. I must separate them forever." + +"And how?" + +"By forcing him to disappear." + +"And if he refuse?" + +Cayrol shook his head menacingly, and exclaimed: + +"I defy him! If he resist, I will bring him before the assizes!" + +"You?" said Madame Desvarennes, going nearer to Cayrol. + +"Yes, I!" answered the banker, with energy. + +"Wretched man! And my daughter?" cried the mistress. "Think well what +you are saying! You would disgrace me and mine." + +"Am I not dishonored myself?" asked Cayrol. "Your son-in-law is a +robber, who has defiled my home and robbed my safe." + +"An honest man does not seek to revenge himself after the manner you +suggest," said the mistress, gravely. + +"An honest man defends himself as he can. I am not a knight. I am only +a financier. Money is my weapon. The Prince has stolen from me. I will +have him sentenced as a thief." + +Madame Desvarennes frowned. + +"Make out your account. I will pay it." + +"Will you also pay me for my lost happiness?" cried the banker, +exasperated. "Should I not rather have chosen to be ruined than be +betrayed as I am? You can never repair the wrong he has done me. +And then I am suffering so, I must have my revenge!" + +"Ah! fool that you are," replied Madame Desvarennes. "The guilty will +not feel your blows, but the innocent. When my daughter and I are in +despair will you be less unhappy! Oh! Cayrol, take heed that you lose +not in dignity what you gain in revenge. The less one is respected by +others the more one must respect one's self. Contempt and silence +elevate the victim, while rage and hatred make him descend to the level +of those who have outraged him." + +"Let people judge me as they please. I care only for myself! I am a +vulgar soul, and have a low mind--anything you like. But the idea that +that woman belongs to another drives me mad. I ought to hate her, but, +notwithstanding everything, I cannot live without her. If she will come +back to me I will forgive her. It is ignoble! I feel it, but it is too +strong for me. I adore her!" + +Before that blind love Madame Desvarennes shuddered. She thought of +Micheline who loved Serge as Cayrol loved Jeanne. + +"Suppose she chooses to go away with Serge," said the mistress to +herself. In a moment she saw the house abandoned, Micheline and Serge in +foreign lands, and she alone in the midst of her overthrown happiness, +dying of sadness and regrets. She made a last effort to move Cayrol. + +"Come, must I appeal in vain? Can you forget that I was a sure and +devoted friend to you, and that you owe your fortune to me? You are a +good man and will not forget the past. You have been outraged and have +the right of seeking revenge, but think that in carrying it out you will +hurt two women who have never done you any harm. Be generous! Be just! +Spare us!" + +Cayrol remained silent; his face did not relax. After a moment he said: + +"You see how low I have fallen, by not yielding at once to your +supplications! Friendship, gratitude, generosity, all the good feelings +I had, have been consumed by this execrable love. There is nothing left +but love for her. For her, I forget everything. I degrade and debase +myself. And what is worse than all, is that I know all this and yet I +cannot help myself." + +"Miserable man!" murmured the mistress. + +"Oh! most miserable," sobbed Cayrol, falling into an armchair. + +Madame Desvarennes approached him, and quietly placed her hand on his +shoulder. + +"Cayrol, you are weeping? Then, forgive." + +The banker arose and, with lowering brow, said: + +"No! my resolution is irrevocable. I wish to place a world between +Jeanne and Serge. If he has not gone away by tonight my complaint will +be lodged in the courts of justice." + +Madame Desvarennes no longer persisted. She saw that the husband's heart +was permanently closed. + +"It is well. I thank you for having warned me. You might have taken +action without doing so. Good-by, Cayrol. I leave your conscience to +judge between you and me." + +The banker bowed, and murmured: + +"Good-by!" + +And with a heavy step, almost tottering, he went out. + +The sun had risen, and lit up the trees in the garden. Nature seemed to +be making holiday. The flowers perfumed the air, and in the deep blue +sky swallows were flying to and fro. This earthly joy exasperated Madame +Desvarennes. She would have liked the world to be in mourning. She +closed the window hastily, and remained lost in her own reflections. + +So everything was over! The great prosperity, the honor of the house, +everything was foundering in a moment. Even her daughter might escape +from her, and follow the infamous husband whom she adored in spite of his +faults--perhaps because of his very faults--and might drag on a weary +existence in a strange land, which would terminate in death. + +For that sweet and delicate child could not live without material +comforts and mental ease, and her husband was doomed to go on from bad to +worse, and would drag her down with him! The mistress pictured her +daughter, that child whom she had brought up with the tenderest care, +dying on a pallet, and the husband, odious to the last, refusing her +admission to the room where Micheline was in agony. + +A fearful feeling of anger overcame her. Her motherly love gained the +mastery, and in the silence of the room she roared out these words: + +"That shall not be!" + +The opening of the door recalled her to her senses, and she rose. It was +Marechal, greatly agitated. After Cayrol's arrival, not knowing what to +do, he had gone to the Universal Credit Company, and there, to his +astonishment, had found the offices closed. He had heard from the +porter, one of those superb personages dressed in blue and red cloth, +who were so important in the eyes of the shareholders, that the evening +before, owing to the complaint of a director, the police had entered the +offices, and taken the books away, and that the official seal had been +placed on the doors. Marechal, much alarmed, had hastened back to Madame +Desvarennes to apprise her of the fact. It was evidently necessary to +take immediate steps to meet this new complication. Was this indeed the +beginning of legal proceedings? And if so how would the Prince come out +of it? + +Madame Desvarennes listened to Marechal, without uttering a word. Events +were hurrying on even quicker than she had dreaded. The fears of the +interested shareholders outran even the hatred of Cayrol. What would the +judges call Herzog's underhand dealings? Would it be embezzlement? +Or forgery? Would they come and arrest the Prince at her house? +The house of Desvarennes, which had never received a visit from a +sheriff's officer, was it to be disgraced now by the presence of the +police? + +The mistress, in that fatal hour, became herself again. The strong- +minded woman of old reappeared. Marechal was more alarmed at this sudden +vigor than he had been at her late depression. When he saw Madame +Desvarennes going toward the door, he made an effort to detain her. + +"Where are you going, Madame?" he inquired, with anxiety. + +The mistress gave him a look that terrified him, and answered: + +"I am going to square accounts with the Prince." + +And, passing through the door leading to the little staircase, Madame +Desvarennes went up to her son-in-law's rooms. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE MOTHER'S REVENGE + +On leaving Herzog, Serge had turned his steps toward the Rue Saint- +Dominique. He had delayed the moment of going home as long as possible, +but the streets 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 planning what course he should adopt to +bring about a reconciliation with his redoubtable mother-in-law. He was +no longer proud, but felt quite broken down. Only Madame Desvarennes +could put him on his feet again; and, as cowardly in trouble as he had +been insolent in prosperity, he accepted beforehand all that she might +impose upon him; all, provided that she would cover him with her +protection. + +He was frightened, not knowing how deep Herzog had led him in the mire. +His moral sense had disappeared, but he had a vague instinct of the +danger he had incurred. The financier's 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 loved him. In appealing to her heart, deeply wounded as it +was, he would have in her an ally, and he had long known that Madame +Desvarennes could not oppose her daughter in anything. + +He entered the house through the back garden gate, and regained his room +without making the slightest noise. He dreaded meeting Madame +Desvarennes before seeing Micheline. First he changed his attire; he had +walked about Paris in evening 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 attention to the making +up of his face. He wished once more to captivate his wife, as his safety +depended on the impression he was about to make on her. At last, +satisfied with himself, he tried to look smiling, and went to his wife's +room. + +Micheline was up. + +At the sight of Serge she could not suppress an exclamation of surprise. +It was a long time since he had discontinued these familiar visits. The +presence of her beloved one in that room, which had seemed so empty when +he was not there, made her feel happy, and she went to him with a smile, +holding out her hand. Serge drew her gently toward him and kissed her +hair. + +"Up, already, dear child," said he, affectionately. + +"I have scarcely slept," answered Micheline. "I was so anxious. I sat +up for you part of the night. I had left you without saying good-night. +It was the first time it had occurred, and I wanted to beg your pardon. +But you came in very late." + +"Micheline, it is I who am ungrateful," interrupted Panine, making the +young wife sit down beside him. "It is I who must ask you to be +indulgent." + +"Serge! I beg of you!" said the young wife, taking both his hands. +"All is forgotten. I would not reproach you, I love you so much!" + +Micheline's face beamed with joy, and tears filled her eyes. + +"You are weeping," said Panine. "Ah! I feel the weight of my wrongs +toward you. I see how deserving you are of respect and affection. +I feel unworthy, and would kneel before you to say how I regret all the +anxieties I have caused you, and that my only desire in the future will +be to make you forget them." + +"Oh! speak on! speak on!" cried Micheline, with delight. "What +happiness to hear you say such sweet words! Open your heart to me! You +know I would die to please you. If you have any anxieties or annoyances +confide in me. I can relieve them. Who could resist me when you are in +question?" + +"I have none, Micheline," answered Serge, with the constrained manner of +a man who is feigning. "Nothing but the regret of not having lived more +for you." + +"Is the future not in store for us?" said the young wife, looking +lovingly at him. + +The Prince shook his head, saying: + +"Who can answer for the future?" + +Micheline came closer to her husband, not quite understanding what Serge +meant, but her mind was on the alert, and in an alarmed tone, she +resumed: + +"What strange words you are uttering? Are we not both young? And, if +you like, is there not much happiness in store for us?" + +And she clung to him. Serge turned away. + +"Oh, stay," she murmured, again putting her arms round him. "You are so +truly mine at this moment!" + +Panine saw that the opportunity for confessing all had come. He was able +to bring tears to his eyes, and went toward the window as if to hide his +emotion. Micheline followed him, and, in an eager tone, continued: + +"Ah! I knew you were hiding something. You are unhappy or in pain; +threatened perhaps? Ah! if you love me, tell me the truth!" + +"Well, yes! It is true, I am threatened. I am suffering and unhappy! +But don't expect a confession from me. I should blush to make it. But, +thank Heaven, if I cannot extricate myself from the difficulty in which +I am placed through my own folly and imprudence--there is yet another way +out of it." + +"Serge! you would kill yourself!" cried Micheline, terrified at the +gesture Panine had made. "What would become of me then? But what is +there that is so hard to explain? And to whom should it be said?" + +"To your mother," answered Serge, bowing his head. + +"To my mother? Very well, I will go to her. Oh! don't fear anything. +I can defend you, and to strike you she will first have to attack me." + +Serge put his arms round Micheline, and with a kiss, the hypocrite +inspired her whom he entrusted with his safety with indomitable courage. + +"Wait for me here," added the young wife, and passing through the little +drawing-room she reached the smoking-room. + +She halted there a moment, out of breath and almost choked with emotion. +The long expected day had arrived. Serge was coming back to her. She +went on, and as she reached the door of the stair leading to her mother's +rooms, she heard a light tap from without. + +Greatly astonished, she opened the door, and suddenly drew back, uttering +an exclamation. A woman, thickly veiled, stood before her. + +At the sight of Micheline the stranger seemed inclined to turn and fly. +But overcome with jealousy, the young wife seized her by the arm, dragged +off her veil, and recognizing her, exclaimed: + +"Jeanne!" + +Madame Cayrol approached Micheline, and beseechingly stretched out her +hands: + +"Micheline! don't think--I come--" + +"Hold your tongue!" cried Micheline. "Don't tell me any lies! I know +all! You are my husband's mistress!" + +Crushed by such a stroke, Jeanne hid her face in her hands and moaned: + +"O God!" + +"You must really be bold," continued Micheline, in a furious tone, "to +seek him here, in my house, almost in my arms!" + +Jeanne drew herself up, blushing with shame and grief. + +"Ah! don't think," she said, "that love brings me here." + +"What is it then?" asked Micheline, contemptuously. + +"The knowledge of inevitable and pressing danger which threatens Serge." + +"A danger! Of what kind?" + +"Compromised by Herzog, he is at the mercy of my husband, who has sworn +to ruin him." + +"Your husband!" + +"Yes, he is his rival. If you could ruin me, would you not do it?" said +Jeanne. + +"You!" retorted Micheline, passionately. "Do you think I am going to +worry about you? Serge is my first thought. You say you came to warn +him. What must be done?" + +"Without a moment's delay he must go away!" + +A strange suspicion crossed Micheline's mind. She approached Jeanne, and +looking earnestly at her, said: + +"He must go away without delay, eh? And it is you, braving everything, +without a thought of the trouble you leave behind you, who come to warn +him? Ah! you mean to go with him?" + +Jeanne hesitated a moment. Then, boldly and impudently, defying and +almost threatening the legitimate wife: + +"Well, yes, I wish to! Enough of dissimulation! I love him!" she +exclaimed. + +Micheline, transfigured by passion, strong, and ready for a struggle, +threw herself in Jeanne's way, with arms outstretched, as if to prevent +her going to Serge. + +"Well!" she said; "try to take him from me!" + +"Take him from you!" answered Jeanne, laughing like a mad woman. "To +whom does he most belong? To the woman who was as ignorant of his love +as she was of his danger; who could do nothing toward his happiness, and +can do nothing for his safety? Or to the mistress who has sacrificed her +honor to please him and risks her safety to save him?" + +"Ah! wretch!" cried Micheline, "to invoke your infamy as a right!" + +"Which of us has taken him from the other?" continued Jeanne, forgetting +respect, modesty, everything. "Do you know that he loved me before he +married 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 suffer? Shall we make out a balance-sheet of our tears? Then, you +will be able to tell which of us he has loved more, and to whom he really +belongs." + +Micheline had listened to this furious address almost in a state of +stupor, and replied, vehemently: + +"What matter who triumphs if his ruin is certain. Selfish creatures that +we are, instead of disputing about his love, let us unite in saving him! +You say he must go away! But flight is surely an admission of guilt-- +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 +adores you, who would sacrifice everything for you, as I would for Serge, +and yet you have not thrown yourself at his feet! You have not offered +your life as the price of your lover's! And you say that you love him!" + +"Ah!" stammered Jeanne, distracted. "You wish me to save him for you!" + +"Is that the cry of your heart?" said Micheline, with crushing disdain. +"Well, see what I am ready to do. If, to remove your jealous fears, it +is necessary to sacrifice myself, I swear to you that if Serge be saved, +he shall be perfectly free, and I will never see him again!" + +Micheline, chaste and calm, with hands raised to Heaven, seemed to grow +taller and nobler. Jeanne, trembling and overpowered, looked at her +rival with a painful effort, and murmured, softly: + +"Would you do that?" + +"I would do more!" said the lawful wife, bending before the mistress. +"I ought to hate you, and I kneel at your feet and beseech you to listen +to 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 +have outraged. His generosity cannot be less than ours, and to us, who +sacrifice our love, he will not be able to refuse to sacrifice his +vengeance." + +This greatness and goodness awaked feelings in Jeanne's heart which she +thought dead. She was silent for a moment and then her breast heaved +with convulsive sobs, and she fell helpless into the arms which +Micheline, full of pity, held out to her. + +"Forgive me," moaned the unhappy woman. "I am conquered. Your rights +are sacred, and you have just made them still more so. Keep Serge: with +you he will once more become honest and happy, because, if your love is +not greater than mine, it is nobler and purer." + +The two women went hand in hand to try to save the man whom they both +adored. + +All this time Serge remained in the little drawing-room enjoying the hope +of returning peace. It was sweet to him, after the troubles he had gone +through. He had not the slightest suspicion of the scene in the +adjoining room between Jeanne and Micheline. The fond heroism of his +wife and the self-denial of his mistress were unknown to him. + +Time was passing. At least an hour had sped since Micheline left him to +go to her mother, and Serge was beginning to think that the interview was +very long, when a light step made him tremble. It came from the gallery. +He thought it was Micheline, and opening the door, he went to meet her. + +He drew back disappointed, vexed, and anxious, when he found it was +Pierre. The two men had never met alone since that terrible night at +Nice. Panine assumed a bold demeanor, and returned Pierre's firm look. +Steadying his voice, he said: + +"Ah! is it you?" + +"Were you not expecting me?" answered Pierre whose harsh voice thrilled +Serge. + +The Prince opened his mouth to speak, but Pierre, did not give him time. +In stern and provoking accents, he continued: + +"I made you a promise once; have you forgotten it? I have a good memory. +You are a villain, and I come to chastise you!" + +"Pierre!" exclaimed the Prince, starting fiercely. + +But he suddenly calmed himself, and added: + +"Leave me! I will not listen to you!" + +"You will have to, though! You are a source of trouble and shame to the +family to which you have allied yourself, and as you have not the courage +to kill yourself, 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 chance favors you, you will be at liberty to +continue your infamies, but at any rate I shall have done my best to rid +two unfortunate women of your presence." + +"You are mad!" said Serge, sneeringly. + +"Don't think so! And know that I am ready for any emergency. Come; must +I strike you, to give you courage?" growled Pierre, ready to suit the +action to the word. + +"Ah! take care!" snarled Serge, with an evil look. + +And opening a drawer which was close to him, he took out a revolver. + +"Thief first, then murderer!" said Pierre, with a terrible laugh. +"Come, let's see you do it!" + +And he was going toward the Prince when the door opened, and Madame +Desvarennes came forward. Placing her hand on Pierre's shoulder, she +said, in that commanding tone which few could resist: + +"Go; wait for me in my room. I wish it!" + +Pierre bowed, and, without answering, went out. + +Serge had placed the pistol on the table and was waiting. + +"We have to talk over several matters," said Madame Desvarennes, gravely, +"and you know it." + +"Yes, Madame," answered Panine, sadly, "and, believe me, no one judges my +conduct more severely than I do." + +The mistress could not help looking surprised. + +"Ah!" she said, with irony, "I did not expect to find you in such a +mood. You have not accustomed me to such humility and sweetness. You +must be afraid, to have arrived at that stage!" + +The Prince appeared not to have understood the implied insult in his +mother-in-law's words. One thing struck him, which was that she +evidently did not expect to find him repentant and humbled. + +"Micheline must have told you," he began. + +"I have not seen my daughter," interrupted the mistress, sharply, as if +to make him understand that he must depend solely upon himself. + +Ignorant that Micheline had met Jeanne on her way to her mother, and had +gone to Cayrol, Serge thought he was abandoned by his only powerful ally. +He saw that he was lost and that his feigned resignation was useless. +Unable to control himself any longer, his face darkened with rage. + +"She, too, against me! Well! I will defend myself alone!" + +Turning toward Madame Desvarennes, he added: + +"To begin with, what do you want with me?" + +"I wish to ask you a question. We business folk when we fail, and cannot +pay our way, throw blood on the blot and it disappears. You members of +the nobility, when you are disgraced, how do you manage?" + +"If I am not mistaken, Madame," answered the Prince, in a light tone, +"you do me the favor of asking what my intentions are for the future? +I will answer you with precision. I purpose leaving to-night for Aix-la- +Chapelle, where I shall join my friend Herzog. We shall begin our +business again. My wife, on whose good feelings I rely, will accompany +me, notwithstanding everything." + +And in these last words he put all the venom of his soul. + +"My daughter will not leave me!" exclaimed Madame Desvarennes. + +"Very well, then, you can accompany her," retorted Panine. "That +arrangement will suit me. Since my troubles I have learned to appreciate +domestic happiness." + +"Ah! you hope to play your old games on me," said Madame Desvarennes. +"You won't get much out of me. My daughter and I with you--in the stream +where you are going to sink? Never!" + +"Well, then," cried Panine, "what do you expect?" + +A violent ring at the front door resounded as Madame Desvarennes was +about to answer, and stopped the words on her lips. This signal, which +was used only on important occasions, sounded to Madame like a funeral +knell. Serge frowned, and instinctively moved back. + +Marechal appeared through the half-open door with a scared face, and +silently handed Madame Desvarennes a card. She glanced at it, turned +pale, and said to the secretary: + +"Very well, let him wait!" She threw the card on the table. Serge came +forward and read: + +"Delbarre, sheriff's officer." + +Haggard-looking and aghast, he turned to the mistress, as if seeking an +explanation. + +"Well!" she observed: "it is clear, he has come to arrest you." + +Serge rushed to a cabinet, and opening a drawer, took forth some handfuls +of gold and notes, which he crammed into his pockets. + +"By the back stairs I shall have time to get away. It is my last chance! +Keep the man for five minutes only." + +"And if the door is guarded?" asked Madame Desvarennes. + +Serge remained abject before her. He felt himself enclosed in a ring +which he could not break through. + +"One may be prosecuted without being condemned," he gasped. "You will +use your influence, I know, and you will get me out of this mess. I +shall be grateful to you for ever, and will do anything you like! But +don't leave me, it would be cowardly!" + +He trembled, as he thus besought her distractedly. + +"The son-in-law of Madame Desvarennes does not go before the Assize +Courts even to be acquitted," said she, with a firm voice. + +"What would you have me do?" cried Serge, passionately. + +Madame Desvarennes did not answer, but pointed to the revolver on the +table. + +"Kill myself? Ah! no; that would be giving you too much pleasure." + +And he gave the weapon a push, so that it rolled close to Madame +Desvarennes. + +"Ah! wretch!" cried she, giving way to her suppressed rage. "You are +not even a Panine! The Panines knew how to die." + +"I have not time to act a melodrama with you," snarled Serge. "I am +going to try to save myself." + +And he took a step toward the door. + +The mistress seized the revolver, and threw herself before him. + +"You shall not go out!" she cried. + +"Are you mad?" he exclaimed, gnashing his teeth. + +"You shall not go out!" repeated the mistress, with flashing eyes. + +"We shall see!" + +And with a strong arm he seized Madame Desvarennes, and threw her aside. + +The mistress became livid. Serge had his hand on the handle of the door. +He was about to escape. Madame Desvarennes's arm was stretched forth. + +A shot made the windows rattle; the weapon fell from her hand, having +done its work and, amid the smoke, a body dropped heavily on the carpet, +which was soon dyed with blood. + +At the same moment, the door opened, and Micheline entered, holding in +her hand the fatal receipt which she had just wrung from Cayrol. The +young wife uttered a heartrending cry, and fell senseless on Serge's +body. + +Behind Micheline came the officer and Marechal. The secretary exchanged +looks with the mistress, who was lifting her fainting daughter and +clasping her in her arms. He understood all. + +Turning toward his companion, he said: + +"Alas! sir, here is a sad matter! The Prince, on hearing that you had +come, took fright, although his fault was not very serious, and has shot +himself." + +The officer bowed respectfully to the mistress, who was bending over +Micheline. + +"Please to withdraw, Madame. You have already suffered too much," said +he. "I understand your legitimate grief. If I need any information, +this gentleman will give it to me." + +Madame Desvarennes arose, and, without bending under the burden, she bore +away on her bosom her daughter, regained. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Cowardly in trouble as he had been insolent in prosperity +Heed that you lose not in dignity what you gain in revenge +She would have liked the world to be in mourning +The guilty will not feel your blows, but the innocent + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of Serge Panine, v4 +by Georges Ohnet + diff --git a/3917.zip b/3917.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f4bed8 --- /dev/null +++ b/3917.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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