The men were in evening dress, Nana in a gown of white embroidered satin, while Satin made a more modest appearance in black silk with a simple gold heart at her throat, which was a present from her kind friend.

Julien and Francois waited behind the guests and were assisted in this by Zoe.

All three looked most dignified.
"It's certain I had far greater fun when I hadn't a cent!" Nana repeated.
She had placed Muffat on her right hand and Vandeuvres on her left, but she scarcely looked at them, so taken up was she with Satin, who sat in state between Philippe and Georges on the opposite side of the table.
"Eh, duckie ?" she kept saying at every turn.

"How we did use to laugh in those days when we went to Mother Josse's school in the Rue Polonceau!" When the roast was being served the two women plunged into a world of reminiscences.

They used to have regular chattering fits of this kind when a sudden desire to stir the muddy depths of their childhood would possess them.