She arrived in the Rue Saint-Dominique at the moment when Pierre Delarue, thirsting with ambition, was leaving his betrothed, his relatives, and gay Paris to undertake engineering work on the coasts of Algeria and Tunis that would raise him above his rivals.

In leaving, the young man did not for a moment think that Jeanne was returning from England at the same hour with trouble for him in the person of a very handsome cavalier, Prince Serge Panine, who had been introduced to her at a ball during the London season.

Mademoiselle de Cernay, availing herself of English liberty, was returning escorted only by a maid in company with the Prince.

The journey had been delightful.

The tete-a-tete travelling had pleased the young people, and on leaving the train they had promised to see each other again.