E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) ARTIST AND MODEL (THE DIVORCED PRINCESS). by RENÉ DE PONT-JEST. The Arthur Westbrook Company Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A. (Printed in the United States of America) TABLE OF CONTENTS. PART I. I. LISE BARINEFF. 5 II. A WINTER AT ST. PETERSBURG. 11 III. AT PAMPELN. 19 IV. GENERAL PODOI. 39 V. PRINCESS AND MODEL. 52 VI. PARIS AND ST. PETERSBURG. 67 VII. AT THE OPERA COMIQUE. 79 VIII. THE REVENGE OF AN HONORABLE MAN. 85 IX. IN FLAGRANTE DELICTO. 92 X. THE INQUIRY. 104 XI. THE MEYRINS. 112 XII. THE DIVORCE. 118 XIII. THE LAST OF A PRINCESS. 127 PART II. I. VERA SOUBLAIEFF. 136 II. THE STUDIO IN THE RUE D'ASSAS. 149 III. MOTHERHOOD. 160 IV. SARAH'S REVENGE. 170 V. DIVORCE--SEPARATION. 182 VI. LISE AND VERA. 190 VII. MADAME DAUBREL'S STORY. 203 VIII. ABANDONED. 210 IX. FAR AWAY. 217 X. TWO HUSBANDS. 224 XI. LISE AND MARTHE. 236 ARTIST AND MODEL. PART I. THE PRINCESS OLSDORF. CHAPTER I. LISE BARINEFF. When, in 1860, with the permission of the czar, Prince Pierre Olsdorf married Mlle. Lise Barineff, the Russian aristocracy was rather scandalized by the _mésalliance_. Everybody was well aware that the new princess was born not only before the marriage of her mother, Mme. Froment, with the Count Barineff, but even some months before Mme. Froment appeared in St. Petersburg, where, at the Michael Theater, she was brilliantly successful both as a woman and as an artiste. It was not forgotten that one evening, at the time when she was to appear on the stage, the French actress had sent word to the stage manager that she was ill. The piece to be played was changed in consequence, and next morning all St. Petersburg learned that its idol had taken a lord and master--a legitimate one this time--in the person of Count Barineff, a fast fellow, worn out with excess of every kind, but rich, of good family, and in favor at court.