otested against this
exaggerated picture. Delarue had arrived during the dog-days--a bad time.
And then, it was necessary for the work to be carried on without delay.
Besides, a few Moors, more or less--what did it matter? Negroes, all but
monkeys!

Marechal, who had listened silently until then, interrupted the
conversation, to defend the monkeys in the name of Littre. He had framed
a theory, founded on Darwin, and tending to prove that men who despised
monkeys despised themselves. Herzog, a little taken aback by this
unexpected reply, had looked at Marechal slyly, asking himself if it was
a joke. But, seeing Madame Desvarennes laugh, he recovered his
self-possession. Business could not be carried on in the East as in
Europe. And then, had it not always been thus? Had not all the great
discoverers worked the countries which they discovered? Christopher
Columbus, Cortez--had they not taken riches from the Indians, in exchange
for the civilization which they brought them? He (Herzog) had, in making
a railway in Morocco, given the natives the means of civilizing
themselves. It was only fair that it should cost them something.

Herzog uttered his tirade with all the charm of which he was capable; he
looked to the right and to the left to notice the effect. He saw nothing
but constrained faces. It seemed as if they were expecting some one or
something. Time was passing; ten o'clock had just struck. From the little
boudoir sounds of music were occasionally heard, when Micheline's nervous
hand struck a louder chord on her piano. She was there, anxiously
awaiting some one or something. Jeanne de Cernay, stretched in an
easy-chair, her head leaning on her hand, was dreaming.

During the past three weeks the young girl had changed. Her bright wit no
longer enlivened Micheline's indolent calmness; her brilliant eyes were
surrounded by blue rings, which denoted nights passed without sleep. The
change coincided strangely with Prince Panine's departure for England,
and the sending of the letter which recalled Pierre to Paris. Had the
inhabitants of the mansion been less occupied with their own troubles,
they would no doubt have noticed this sudden change, and have sought to
know the reason. But the attention of all was concentrated on the events
which had already troubled them, and which would no doubt be yet more
serious to the house, until lately so quiet.

The visitors' bell sounded, and caused Micheline to rise. The blood
ru