When my husband was alive, I was already more of a mother than a wife; now my whole life is wrapped up in my daughter." Then raising her vigorous arms with grim energy, she added: "Do you know, if my daughter were made miserable through her husband, I should be capable of killing him." These were the last words of the interview which decided the destiny of Micheline, of the Prince, of Madame Desvarennes, and of Pierre.

The mistress stretched out her hand and rang the bell.

A servant appeared, to whom she gave instructions to tell Marechal to come down.

She thought it would be pleasant for Pierre to pour out his griefs into the heart of his friend.

A man weeps with difficulty before a woman, and she guessed that the young man's heart was swollen with tears.