And, as for him, I should have been in love with him myself, if I had not had my guests to attend to.

Ah, society is as absorbing as a husband!" Upon the boat, Paul Jacquemin did not leave the side of the matchmaker.
He followed her everywhere.

He had still to obtain a description of the bride's toilettes, the genealogy of General Vogotzine, a sketch of the bridegroom's best friend, Varhely, and a thousand other details.
"Where will the wedding take place ?" he asked the Baroness.
"At Maisons-Lafitte.

Oh! everything is perfect, my dear Jacquemin, perfect! An idyl! All the arrangements are exquisite, exquisite! I only wish that you had charge of the supper." Jacquemin, general overseer of the Baroness's parties in the Rue Murillo, did not confess himself inferior to any one as an epicure.

He would taste the wines, with the air of a connoisseur, holding his glass up to the light, while the liquor caressed his palate, and shutting his eyes as if more thoroughly to decide upon its merits.
"Pomard!" would slowly fall from his lips, or "Acceptable Musigny!" "This Chambertin is really very fair!" "The Chateau Yquem is not half bad!" etc., etc.