Madame Desvarennes raised her eyes and looked at the Prince. She saw him
so pale with suppressed rage that she dared not say another word. She
read deadly hatred in the young man's look. Frightened at what she had
just been saying, she stepped back, and went quickly toward the door.

"Take this money, Madame," said Serge, in a trembling voice. "Take it, or
all is over between us forever."

And, seizing the notes, he put them by force in Madame Desvarennes's
hands. Then tearing up with rage the paper that had been the cause of
this painful scene, he threw the pieces in the fireplace.

Deeply affected, Madame Desvarennes descended the stairs which she had a
few minutes before gone up with so much resolution. She had a
presentiment that an irreparable rupture had just taken place between
herself and her son-in-law. She had ruffled Panine's pride. She felt that
he would never forgive her. She went to her room sad and thoughtful. Life
was becoming gloomy for this poor woman. Her confidence in herself had
disappeared. She hesitated now, and was irresolute when she had to take a
decision. She no longer went straight to the point by the shortest road.
Her sonorous voice was softened. She was no longer the same willing
energetic woman who feared no obstacles. She had known defeat.

The attitude of her daughter had changed toward her. It seemed as if
Micheline wished to absolve herself of all complicity with Madame
Desvarennes. She kept away to prove to her husband that if her mother had
displeased him in any way, she had nothing to do with it. This behavior
grieved her mother, who felt that Serge was working secretly to turn
Micheline against her. And the mad passion of the young wife for him whom
she recognized as her master did not allow the mother to doubt which side
she would take if ever she had to choose between husband and mother.

One day Micheline came down to see her mother. It was more than a month
since she had visited her. In a moment Madame Desvarennes saw that she
had something of an embarrassing nature to speak of. To begin with she
was more affectionate than usual, seeming to wish with the honey of her
kisses to sweeten the bitter cross which the mistress was doomed to bear.
Then she hesitated. She fidgeted about the room humming. At last she said
that the doctor had come at the request of Serge, who was most anxious
about his wife's health. And that excellent Doctor Rigaud, who had known
her from a child,