“Will you give me a dance?” said Marechal.  “I don’t dance to perfection, never having practised much, but with a good will.”

“Thank you, Monsieur Marechal, I would rather talk.  I am not very cheerful to-night, and, believe me, I only came because Madame Desvarennes wished it.  I would rather have remained at home.  Business has gone wrong with my father by what I can hear, for I don’t know what goes on at the office.  I feel more inclined to cry than to laugh.  Not that I regret the loss of money, you know; I don’t care for it, but my father must be in despair.”

Marechal listened silently to Suzanne, not daring to tell her what he thought of Herzog, and respected the real ignorance or willing blindness of the young girl who did not doubt her father’s loyalty.

The Princess, leaning on Cayrol’s arm, had just finished promenading round the rooms, when she perceived Suzanne and, leaving the banker, came and seated herself beside her.  Many of the guests looked at each other and whispered words which Micheline did not hear, and if she had heard would not have understood.  “It is heroic!” some said.  Others answered, “It is the height of impudence.”

The Princess was talking with Suzanne and was looking at her husband who, leaning against a door, was following Jeanne with his eyes.

At a sign from Cayrol, Marechal left the room.  The secretary joined Madame Desvarennes, who had come with Pierre and had remained in Cayrol’s private office.  During this party matters of moment were to be discussed, and a consultation was about to take place between the interested parties.  On seeing Marechal enter, Madame only uttered one word: 

“Cayrol?”

“Here he is,” answered the secretary.

Cayrol came in, hurriedly.

“Well,” he asked, with great anxiety, “have you any news?”

“Pierre has just come from London,” answered the mistress.  “What we feared is true.  Herzog, conjointly with my son-in-law, has made use of the ten millions belonging to the European Credit.”

“Do you think that Herzog has really bolted?” inquired Marechal.

“No! he is too deep for that,” replied Cayrol.  “He will return.  He knows that in compromising the Prince it is as if he had compromised the firm of Desvarennes, therefore he is quite easy on the matter.”

“Can the one be saved without the other?” asked the mistress.

“It is impossible.  Herzog has so firmly bound up his interests with those of the Prince that it will be necessary to extricate both or let both perish together.”

“Well, we must save Herzog into the bargain, then!” said Madame Desvarennes, coldly.  “But by what means?”

“These,” answered Cayrol.  “The shares taken away by Herzog, under the security of the Prince’s signature, were deposited by the shareholders.  When the Universal Credit removed to its new offices, these shares were taken away by mistake.  It will suffice to replace the scrip.  I will give back the receipt to the Prince and all trace of this deplorable affair will be wiped out.”