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ARTIST AND MODEL
(THE DIVORCED PRINCESS).
by
RENE 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 _mesalliance_. 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.
After the marriage ceremony Count Barineff went abroad with his wife
and her daughter, now his daughter too; and they were forgotten up to
the time when the countess, really a widow now--for probably there had
never been a M. Froment--returned to Russia to take possession of her
late husband's property. His extravagance of all kinds had made some
deep inroads into it, but enough was left for her to maintain a very
honorable rank with.
On her return to St. Petersburg, after an absence of ten years, the
ex-leading lady of the Michael Theatre had encountered a goodly number
of her former adorers; and as she was still beautiful, and her
daughter--now fourteen years old--was growing to be very pretty, her
drawing-room was soon a meeting-place for that elegant and frivolous
world of people who trouble their heads very little about the past of
the mistress of a house where they are well received.
Whether it was that years of discretion had come to her, or that she
cleverly concealed the truth, the Countess Barineff gave no chance to
scandal. Her conduct--at any rate in appearance--was perfectly upright
and respectable.
At her house there was always good music, thanks to the artistes of all
nations whom she liked to invite, and received in charming fashion when
they came. There was dancing too, now and then, and often brilliant talk
about France and the literary movement there. In the drawing-room of the
intelligent widow was sure to be heard the latest news of Parisian
fashions, and the last issued novels of famous Paris publishing firms
were always there. There was no prudery, and a slightly scandalous story
might be told; but anything that was said or done was in the tone and
manner of good society.
It may be imagined that this position, so cleverly gained by the adroit
countess, had rekindled the flame of her former adorers. Close siege was
laid to her; she was even asked to give a successor to her first
husband--the Russian--but the most ardent declarations left her cold
and unmoved.
To her most intimate friend, General Podoi, who in the old days had
wished to marry her, and was still deeply in love with her, she replied
one day when he was pressing her to come to a decision:
"My dear general, I don't know whether I shall ever marry again. I doubt
it. At any rate, I shall never commit this folly a second time until
Lise herself is married. First of all, then, a husband must be found
worthy of my daughter. You see, there is plenty of time yet. When I am
about to become a grandmother, I shall be almost an old woman whom
nobody will care for."
The countess might have added, but she did not, as much from prudence as
politeness:
"And you, my good Podoi, will scarcely be of a figure to make a
presentable husband then."
This determination of the countess had not discouraged the old soldier.
He had rather taken it as a sort of future engagement, and had felt
himself authorized in consequence to pose as an aspirant to her hand, as
well as to make himself, so to speak, the protector, factotum, and
steward of the Barineff household; and this, if it did not altogether
drive off the other suitors, kept them, at any rate, at a tolerably
respectful distance.
As the general was a man of honor, and held a high military appointment,
the countess had tacitly accepted the platonic suzerainty, which was
useful to her without being a serious danger for her reputation; and the
good fellow Podoi for the moment demanded nothing more.
From the day of the above conversation, he began to pass before him in a
mental review the young noblemen likely to make good husbands by the
time fixed by his friend the countess. He had drawn up a very curious
list, containing all the information necessary to form a judgment on the
fortune, character, and future of his candidates. From this list he
struck out one by one the names of such of them as disappeared in the
vortex of the world, or who, according to him, had become unworthy to be
presented to his protegee at the psychological moment.
Lise Barineff received an excellent education, and grew into a charming
young girl. Her mother did not let her be seen often. She occasionally
appeared at table when the guests were numerous; more rarely still she
was present at her mother's receptions. She only went into society at
musical _soirees_, and always accompanied the countess in her drives and
walks about the city.
In their landau or sledge, drawn by horses the choice of Podoi, mother
and daughter looked quite distinguished. It was plain to everybody that
the widow of Count Barineff was trying to marry her daughter well. The
ambition was so natural and worthy of respect that no one thought of
criticising it unfavorably. Still less were they disposed to make
ill-natured reflections upon the doubtful descent of pretty Lise
Barineff.
Three years passed thus before the young girl made her formal entry into
society at a ball given by the officers of the Guards in Honor of the
Grand Duke Constantine, and to celebrate his return from the Caucasus.
This first appearance of Lise Barineff in the fashionable world was a
complete triumph for her and her mother. We should add that it was a
triumph too for General Podoi, on whose arm was Lise, whom he looked on
almost as his own child.
The success was well deserved. Lise Barineff was in her eighteenth year.
Fair, slender, and very distinguished-looking, she was remarkably
beautiful too. The elegance of her figure, the perfect oval of her face,
the curve of her lips, the classic shape of her brow--all were fitted to
attract the aspirants whom the good fellow Podoi had dreamed about for
her.
The most striking thing in the young girl from this day forward was the
self-possession with which she received the homage paid to her. It was
evident that her mother had trained her carefully for the admiration she
was the object of, and that she was armed in advance against all
surprises.
It could be seen in the calmness she preserved under the flattering
murmurs which her appearance excited. Without confusion she moved
through these salons where she now set foot for the first time. Her
beautiful, greenish eyes, with emerald-like reflections in their depths,
were not lowered under the dazzling glitter of a world they had never
before seen, but which, doubtless, had been carefully painted for her in
advance.
This indifference of hers was but an additional charm for those whom her
beauty had at once inthralled. For a less enthusiastic spectator, it was
a subject for curious study. A worthy child of the ex-actress of the
Michael Theatre, was this _debutante_ cleverly playing a role long
learned and often repeated? Or was she really what she seemed to be?
Under this bosom already formed, chastely veiled with muslin, would not
an ardent heart soon be beating? What ambitious or passionate thoughts
were slumbering under those delicately penciled eyebrows, in color
darker than her hair, and joined by an almost imperceptible down above
the nose with its sensitive nostrils? How warm was the blood that
circulated under this creamy skin, which was that of a brunette rather
than a blonde? Taken back smoothly from the brow and temples, her
luxuriant hair was rebellious where it was gathered at the nape of the
neck, its golden wealth impatient of restraint. "Diana," murmured the
admirers of Lise Barineff. "Merely Psyche awaiting Cupid," a skeptical
physiologist would have replied.
Within less than a month from this first victoriously surmounted trial,
the countess opened her house to suitors for her daughter's hand. They
soon appeared in a crowd, for it was quickly known that Lise Barineff
was not only a very beautiful girl, but also an excellent musician,
well-cultivated, witty, and speaking with purity three or four
languages.
One of the suitors favored by General Podoi--suitors whose homage Lise
had received with very natural satisfaction to her vanity, without
appearing to distinguish any of them--was soon favorably marked by the
countess. He was Prince Pierre Olsdorf, a rich landed proprietor of
Courland, and, moreover, a charming man of scarcely thirty, without any
post about the court.
When the prince, who seemed much captivated, solicited the hand of her
daughter from the countess, Mme. Barineff at first consulted General
Podoi. As the general, eager to see Lise married, had nothing but very
flattering things to say of Prince Olsdorf, she whom the matter most
interested was told of the choice that had been made for her.
Mlle. Barineff, who indeed, was expecting this communication, replied
calmly that she was ready to accept the husband her mother chose for
her, and the prince was then allowed to pay his court. After two or
three weeks had passed the countess gave a definite consent, and with
the consent of the future princess the marriage was fixed for two months
later.
On the evening of the day when all had been settled thus, General Podoi,
in quitting Mme. Barineff, kissed her hands tenderly, whispering, "I
hope that very soon you will say 'Yes' a second time," a hope to which
Lise's mother replied by a smile. The same evening the mail from Paris
carried a letter written in these terms:
"MY OLD FRIEND,--I have long known too well how much
you are interested in all that concerns my daughter
and myself not to hasten in telling you that Lise is
about to make a marriage as honorable as it is
brilliant. In two months' time she will marry the
Prince Pierre Olsdorf, an admirable young man who
loves her passionately, and whom she likes very much.
"Prince Olsdorf, who is tolerably wealthy, has no post
at the court, so that he will be able to devote
himself to his wife.
"I shall now be recompensed by the happiness of my
daughter for the sacrifices, often painful, that I
have made since her birth.
"I hope this news will give you real joy, and that
your affection will approve the choice I have made.
"Write me a word or two soon to tell me that all is
well, that your health is good, that you are pursuing
the course of your success, and that you have not
forgotten the exiles.
"Your most devoted friend,
"MADELEINE."
The letter was addressed to M. Armand, 42 Rue de l'Est, Paris. The
Countess Barineff seemed to weigh all the words of the letter, and she
signed it with her Christian name alone.