But Michel had felt humiliated to see his own folk make a gap in the financial edifice erected so laboriously by his wife.

Out of this had gradually sprung a sense of dissatisfaction with the Desvarennes of the other branch, which manifested itself by a marked coolness, when, by chance, his brother came to the house, accompanied by his son Savinien.
And then the paternity of his brother made him secretly jealous.

Why should that incapable fellow, who succeeded in nothing, have a son?
It was only those ne'er-do-well sort of people who were thus favored.

He, Michel, already called the rich Desvarennes, he had not a son.

Was it just?
But where is there justice in this world?
The first time that she saw him with a downcast face the mistress had questioned him, and he had frankly expressed his regrets.