Late arrivals were obliging whole rows of spectators to rise; the doors of boxes were banging; loud voices were heard disputing in the passages.

And there was no cessation of the sound of many conversations, a sound similar to the loud twittering of talkative sparrows at close of day.

All was in confusion; the house was a medley of heads and arms which moved to and fro, their owners seating themselves or trying to make themselves comfortable or, on the other hand, excitedly endeavoring to remain standing so as to take a final look round.

The cry of "Sit down, sit down!" came fiercely from the obscure depths of the pit.

A shiver of expectation traversed the house: at last people were going to make the acquaintance of this famous Nana with whom Paris had been occupying itself for a whole week! Little by little, however, the buzz of talk dwindled softly down among occasional fresh outbursts of rough speech.