“Mademoiselle,” said the Prince, gayly, “a little while ago, when I was passing through the rooms, I heard these words:  ’Loan, discount, liquidation.’  Your father must have been there.  Shall I go and seek him?”

“I should be very grateful,” said the young girl.

“I will go.”

And turning lightly on his heels, happy to escape Jeanne’s looks, Serge reentered the furnace.  At once he saw Herzog seated in the corner of a bay-window with one of the principal stock-brokers of Paris.  He was speaking.  The Prince went straight up to him.

“Sorry to draw you away from the sweets of conversation,” said he, smiling; “but your daughter is waiting for you, and is anxious at your not coming.”

“Faith!  My daughter, yes.  I will come and see you tomorrow,” said he to his companion.  “We will talk over this association:  there is much to be gained by it.”

The other, a man with a bloated face, and fair Dundreary whiskers, was eager to do business with him.  Certainly the affair was good.

“Oh, my dear Prince, I am happy to be alone with you for a moment!” said Herzog, with that familiarity which was one of his means of becoming intimate with people.  “I was going to compliment you!  What a splendid position you have reached.”

“Yes; I have married a charming woman,” replied the Prince, coldly.

“And what a fortune!” insisted the financier.  “Ah, it is worthy of the lot of a great lord such as you are!  Oh, you are like those masterpieces of art which need a splendidly carved frame!  Well, you have your frame, and well gilt too!”

He laughed and seemed pleased at Serge’s happiness.  He had taken one of his hands and was patting it softly between his own.

“Not a very ‘convenient’ mother-in-law, for instance,” he went on, good-naturedly; “but you are so charming!  Only you could have, coaxed Madame Desvarennes, and you have succeeded.  Oh! she likes you, my dear Prince; she told me so only a little while ago.  You have won her heart.  I don’t know how you manage it, but you are irresistible!  By the way, I was not there when the marriage contract was read, and I, forgot to ask Cayrol.  Under what conditions art you married?”

The Prince looked at Herzog with a look that was hardly friendly.  But the financier appeared so indifferent, that Serge could not help answering him: 

“My wife’s fortune is settled on herself.”

“Ah! ah! that is usual in Normandy!” replied Herzog with a grave look.  “I was told Madame Desvarennes was a clever woman and she has proved it.  And you signed the contract with your eyes shut, my dear Prince.  It is perfect, just as a gentleman should do!”

He said this with a good-natured air.  Then, suddenly lifting his eyes, and with an ironical smile playing on his lips, he added: 

“You are bowled out, my dear fellow, don’t you know?”

“Sir!” protested Serge with haughtiness.