Herzog occupied a little house on the Boulevard Haussmann, which he had hired furnished from some Americans. The loud luxury of the Yankees had not frightened him. On the contrary, he held that the gay colors of the furniture and the glitter of the gilded cornices were bound to have a fascination for prospective shareholders. Suzanne had reserved a little corner for herself, modestly hung with muslin and furnished with simple taste, which was a great contrast to the loud appearance of the other part of the house. On arriving, Serge found a stableman washing a victoria. Herzog had returned. The Prince quietly went up the steps, and had himself announced. The financier was sitting in his study by the window, looking through the newspapers. When Serge entered he rose. The two men stood facing each other for a moment. The Prince was the first to speak. “How is it that you have kept me without news during your absence?” asked he, harshly. “Because,” replied Herzog, calmly, “the only news I had was not good news.” “At least I should have known it.” “Would the result of the operation have been different?” “You have led me like a child in this affair,” Serge continued, becoming animated. “I did not know where I was going. You made me promises, how have you kept them?” “As I was able,” quietly answered Herzog. “Play has its chances. One seeks Austerlitz and finds Waterloo.” “But,” cried the Prince, angrily, “the shares which you sold ought not to have gone out of your hands.” “You believed that?” retorted the financier, ironically. “If they ought not to have gone out of my hands it was hardly worth while putting them into them.” “In short,” said Panine, eager to find some responsible party on whom he could pour out all the bitterness of his misfortune, “you took a mean advantage of me.” “Good! I expected you to say that!” returned Herzog, smiling. “If the business had succeeded, you would have accepted your share of the spoil without any scruples, and would have felt ready to crown me. It has failed; you are trying to get out of the responsibility, and are on the point of treating me as if I were a swindler. Still, the affair would not have been more honest in the first instance than in the second, but success embellishes everything.” Serge looked hard at Herzog. “What is there to prove,” replied he, “that this speculation, which brings ruin and loss to me, does not enrich you?” “Ungrateful fellow!” observed the financier, ironically, “you suspect me!” “Of having robbed me!” cried Serge, in a rage. “Why not?” Herzog, for a moment, lost his temper and turned red in the face. He seized Panine violently by the arm, and said: “Gently, Prince; whatever insults you heap upon me must be shared by you. You are my partner.” “Scoundrel!” yelled Panine, exasperated at being held by Herzog. “Personalities,” said the financier, in a jesting tone. “Then I take my leave!” And loosing his hold of the Prince, he went toward the door.