“Oh! most miserable,” sobbed Cayrol, falling into an armchair.
Madame Desvarennes approached him, and quietly placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Cayrol, you are weeping? Then, forgive.”
The banker arose and, with lowering brow, said:
“No! my resolution is irrevocable. I wish to place a world between Jeanne and Serge. If he has not gone away by tonight my complaint will be lodged in the courts of justice.”
Madame Desvarennes no longer persisted. She saw that the husband’s heart was permanently closed.
“It is well. I thank you for having warned me. You might have taken action without doing so. Good-by, Cayrol. I leave your conscience to judge between you and me.”
The banker bowed, and murmured:
“Good-by!”
And with a heavy step, almost tottering, he went out.