“Believe me,” said Pierre, sadly, “it is not my fault that your wish is not carried out.”

“That, my boy, is another question!” cried Madame Desvarennes, whose voice was at once raised two tones.  “And that is where we do not agree.  You are responsible for what has occurred.  I know what you are going, to tell me.  You wished to bring laurels to Micheline as a dower.  That is all nonsense!  When one leaves the Polytechnic School with honors, and with a future open to you like yours, it is not necessary to scour the deserts to dazzle a young girl.  One begins by marrying her, and celebrity comes afterward, at the same time as the children.  And then there was no need to risk all at such a cost.  What, are we then so grand?  Ex-bakers!  Millionaires, certainly, which does not alter the fact that poor Desvarennes carried out the bread, and that I gave change across the counter when folks came to buy sou-cakes!  But you wanted to be a knight-errant, and, during that time, a handsome fellow.  Did Micheline tell you the gentleman’s name?”

“I met him when I came here; he was with her in the garden.  We were introduced to each other.”

“That was good taste,” said Madame Desvarennes with irony.  “Oh, he is a youth who is not easily disturbed, and in his most passionate transports will not disarrange a fold of his cravat.  You know he is a Prince?  That is most flattering to the Desvarennes!  We shall use his coat-of-arms as our trade-mark.  The fortune hunter, ugh!  No doubt he said to himself, ‘The baker has money—­and her daughter is agreeable.’  And he is making a business of it.”

“He is only following the example of many of his equals.  Marriage is to-day the sole pursuit of the nobility.”

“The nobility!  That of our country might be tolerated, but foreign noblemen are mere adventurers.”

“It is well known that the Panines come from Posen—­the papers have mentioned them more than twenty times.”

“Why is he not in his own country?”

“He is exiled.”

“He has done something wrong, then!”

“He has, like all his family, fought for independence.”

“Then he is a revolutionist!”

“A patriot.”

“You are very kind to tell me all that.”

“I may hate Prince Panine,” said Pierre, simply, “but that is no reason why I should not be just to him.”

“So be it; he is an exceptional being, a great citizen, a hero, if you like.  But that does not prove that he will make my daughter happy.  And if you take my advice, we shall send him about his business in a very short time.”

Madame Desvarennes was excited and paced hurriedly up and down the room.  The idea of resuming the offensive after she had been forced to act on the defensive for months past pleased her.  She thought Pierre argued too much.  A woman of action, she did not understand why Pierre had not yet come to a resolution.  She felt that she must gain his confidence.