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JEANNE'S SECRET.
In the drawing-room Jeanne and Serge remained standing, facing each other.

The mask had fallen from their faces; the forced smile had disappeared.

They looked at each other attentively, like two duellists seeking to read each other's game, so that they may ward off the fatal stroke and prepare the decisive parry.
"Why did you leave for England three weeks ago, without seeing me and without speaking to me ?" "What could I have said to you ?" replied the Prince, with an air of fatigue and dejection.
Jeanne flashed a glance brilliant as lightning: "You could have told me that you had just asked for Micheline's hand!" "That would have been brutal!" "It would have been honest! But it would have necessitated an explanation, and you don't like explaining.

You have preferred leaving me to guess this news from the acts of those around me, and the talk of strangers." All these words had been spoken by Jeanne with feverish vivacity.