The Baron, who well knew that a syllable from him would only increase the foulness of the overflow, vainly turned an imploring glance on the Count to solicit his intervention.

Gerard, with his keen desire for peace and quietness, often brought about a reconciliation, but this time he did not stir, feeling too lazy and sleepy to interfere.

And Silviane all at once came to a finish, repeating her trenchant, severing words: "Well, manage as you can, secure my _debut_, or I'll have nothing more to do with you, nothing!" "All right! all right!" Duvillard at last murmured, sneering, but in despair, "we'll arrange it all." However, at that moment a servant came in to say that M.Duthil was downstairs and wished to speak to the Baron in the smoking-room.
Duvillard was astonished at this, for Duthil usually came up as though the house were his own.

Then he reflected that the deputy had doubtless brought him some serious news from the Chamber which he wished to impart to him confidentially at once.

So he followed the servant, leaving Gerard and Silviane together.
In the smoking-room, an apartment communicating with the hall by a wide bay, the curtain of which was drawn up, Pierre stood with his companion, waiting and glancing curiously around him.