Once in the clutches of the demon of play, he would neglect his wife, and the mother might regain a portion of the ground she had lost.

Micheline's fortune once broken into, she would interpose between her daughter and son-in-law.

She would make him pull up, and holding him tightly by her purse strings, would lead him whither she liked.
Already in fancy she saw her authority regained, and her daughter, her treasure, her life, true mistress of the situation, grateful to her for having saved her.

And then, she thought, a baby will come, and if Micheline is really my daughter, she will adore the little thing, and the blind love which she has given to her husband will be diminished by so much.
Serge did not know what an adversary he had against him in his mother-in-law.

It was a bad thing to cross the mistress when business matters were concerned, but now that her daughter's happiness was at stake! A smile came to her lips.