At length Venus, with only her gauze veil over her shoulders, was ready to go on the stage.

Mme Jules, with vacant, unconcerned eyes and an expression suggestive of a little elderly wooden doll, still kept circling round her.

With brisk movements she took pins out of the inexhaustible pincushion over her heart and pinned up Venus' tunic, but as she ran over all those plump nude charms with her shriveled hands, nothing was suggested to her.

She was as one whom her sex does not concern.
"There!" said the young woman, taking a final look at herself in the mirror.
Bordenave was back again.

He was anxious and said the third act had begun.
"Very well! I'm coming," replied Nana.