oked on with bitterness; she spoke of this transformation in
her child with ironical disdain, She was sure Micheline was not in
earnest; only a doll was capable of falling in love so foolishly with a
man for his personal beauty. For to her mind the Prince was as regards
mental power painfully deficient. No sense, dumb as soon as the
conversation took a serious turn, only able to talk dress like a woman,
or about horses like a jockey. And it was such a person upon whom
Micheline literally doted! The mistress felt humiliated; she dared not
say anything to her daughter, but she relieved herself in company of
Marechal, whose discretion she could trust, and whom she willingly called
the tomb of her secrets.

Marechal listened patiently to the confidences of Madame Desvarennes, and
he tried to fight against the growing animosity of the mistress toward
her future son-in-law. Not that he liked the Prince--he was too much on
Pierre's side to be well disposed toward Panine; but with his good sense
he saw that Madame Desvarennes would find it advantageous to overcome her
feeling of dislike. And when the mistress, so formidable toward everybody
except her daughter, cried with rage:

"That Micheline! I have just seen her again in the garden, hanging on the
arm of that great lanky fellow, her eyes fixed on his like a lark
fascinated by a looking-glass. What on earth has happened to her that she
should be in such a state?"

Marechal interrupted her gently.

"All fair people are like that," he affirmed with ironical gayety. "You
cannot understand it, Madame; you are dark."

Then Madame Desvarennes became angry.

"Be quiet," she said, "you are stupid! She ought to have a shower-bath!
She is mad!"

As for Cayrol he lived in ecstasy, like an Italian kneeling before a
madonna. He had never been so happy; he was overwhelmed with joy. Until
then, he had only thought of business matters. To be rich was the aim of
his life; and now he was going to work for happiness. It was all pleasure
for him. He was not blase; he amused himself like a child, adorning the
rooms which were to be occupied by Jeanne. To his mind nothing was too
expensive for the temple of his goddess, as he said, with a loud laugh
which lighted up his whole face. And when he spoke of his love's future
nest, he exclaimed, with a voluptuous shiver:

"It is charming; a veritable little paradise!" Then the financier shone
through all, and he added:

"And I know what it c