SERGE PANINE

By Georges Ohnet

With a General Introduction to the Series by GASTON BOISSIER,
Secretaire Perpetuel de l'academie Francaise.

CONTENTS

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

GEORGES OHNET

SERGE PANINE

BOOK 1.   

CHAPTER I. THE HOUSE OF DESVARENNES

CHAPTER II. THE GALLEY-SLAVE OF PLEASURE

CHAPTER III. PIERRE RETURNS

CHAPTER IV. THE RIVALS

CHAPTER V. A CRITICAL INTERVIEW

CHAPTER VI. A SIGNIFICANT MEETING

BOOK 2.   

CHAPTER VII. JEANNE'S SECRET

CHAPTER VIII. A PLEASANT UNDERSTANDING

CHAPTER IX. THE DOUBLE MARRIAGE

CHAPTER X. CAYROL'S DISAPPOINTMENT

CHAPTER XI. CONFESSION

CHAPTER XII. THE FETE

BOOK 3.   

CHAPTER XIII. THE FIRST BREAK

CHAPTER XIV. A SUDDEN JOURNEY

CHAPTER XV. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

CHAPTER XVI. THE TELLTALE KISS

CHAPTER XVII. CAYROL IS BLIND

BOOK 4.   

CHAPTER XVIII.      THE UNIVERSAL CREDIT COMPANY

CHAPTER XIX. SIN GROWS BOLDER

CHAPTER XX. THE CRISIS

CHAPTER XXI. "WHEN ROGUES FALL OUT"

CHAPTER XXII. THE MOTHER'S REVENGE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1905

BY ROBERT ARNOT

The editor-in-chief of the Maison Mazarin—a man of letters who cherishes an enthusiastic yet discriminating love for the literary and artistic glories of France—formed within the last two years the great project of collecting and presenting to the vast numbers of intelligent readers of whom New World boasts a series of those great and undying romances which, since 1784, have received the crown of merit awarded by the French Academy—that coveted assurance of immortality in letters and in art.

In the presentation of this serious enterprise for the criticism and official sanction of The Academy, 'en seance', was included a request that, if possible, the task of writing a preface to the series should be undertaken by me. Official sanction having been bestowed upon the plan, I, as the accredited officer of the French Academy, convey to you its hearty appreciation, endorsement, and sympathy with a project so nobly artistic. It is also my duty, privilege, and pleasure to point out, at the request of my brethren, the peculiar importance and lasting value of this series to all who would know the inner life of a people whose greatness no turns of fortune have been able to diminish.

In the last hundred years France has experienced the most terrible vicissitudes, but, vanquished or victorious, triumphant or abased, never has she lost her peculiar gift of attracting the curiosity of the world. She interests every living being, and even those who do not love her desire to know her. To this peculiar attraction which radiates from her, artists and men of letters can well bear witness, since it is to literature and to the arts, before all, that France owes such living and lasting power. In every quarter of the civilized world there are distinguished writers, painters, and eminent musicians, but in France they exist in greater numbers than elsewhere. Moreover, it is universally conceded that French writers and artists have this particular and praiseworthy quality: they are most accessible to people of other countries. Without losing their national characteristics, they possess