Steiner went and seated himself at a table in the first saloon, which opened full on the boulevard, its doors having been removed rather early for the time of year.

As Fauchery and La Faloise were passing the banker stopped them.
"Come and take a bock with us, eh ?" they said.
But he was too preoccupied by an idea; he wanted to have a bouquet thrown to Nana.

At last he called a waiter belonging to the cafe, whom he familiarly addressed as Auguste.

Mignon, who was listening, looked at him so sharply that he lost countenance and stammered out: "Two bouquets, Auguste, and deliver them to the attendant.

A bouquet for each of these ladies! Happy thought, eh ?" At the other end of the saloon, her shoulders resting against the frame of a mirror, a girl, some eighteen years of age at the outside, was leaning motionless in front of her empty glass as though she had been benumbed by long and fruitless waiting.