She went up to Pierre, and presented her forehead.
"Well," she said, "don't you kiss your friends ?" She smiled affectionately on him.

Two grateful tears sparkled in the young man's eyes, and fell on Mademoiselle de Cernay's hair.

Micheline, led away by the example and without quite knowing what she was doing, found herself in Pierre's arms.

The situation was becoming singularly perplexing to Serge.

Cayrol, who had not lost his presence of mind, understood it, and turning toward the Prince, said: "Monsieur Pierre Delarue: an old friend and companion of Mademoiselle Desvarennes's; almost a brother to her," thus explaining in one word all that could appear unusual in such a scene of tenderness.
Then, addressing Pierre, he simply added--"Prince Panine." The two men looked at each other.