It was M.Venot, and he had come and seated himself behind them, as though anxious to disappear from view.

Bending forward, he murmured: "Why despair?
God manifests Himself when all seems lost." He was assisting peacefully at the downfall of the house which he erewhile governed.

Since his stay at Les Fondettes he had been allowing the madness to increase, for he was very clearly aware of his own powerlessness.

He had, indeed, accepted the whole position--the count's wild passion for Nana, Fauchery's presence, even Estelle's marriage with Daguenet.

What did these things matter?
He even became more supple and mysterious, for he nursed a hope of being able to gain the same mastery over the young as over the disunited couple, and he knew that great disorders lead to great conversions.