Side lights with red glasses and blue were so placed as to produce the appearance of a fiery brazier, while on the floor of the stage, in the far background, long lines of gaslight had been laid down in order to throw a wall of dark rocks into sharp relief.
Hard by on a gentle, "practicable" incline, amid little points of light resembling the illumination lamps scattered about in the grass on the night of a public holiday, old Mme Drouard, who played Juno, was sitting dazed and sleepy, waiting for her cue.
Presently there was a commotion, for Simonne, while listening to a story Clarisse was telling her, cried out: "My! It's the Tricon!" It was indeed the Tricon, wearing the same old curls and looking as like a litigious great lady as ever.
When she saw Nana she went straight up to her.
"No," said the latter after some rapid phrases had been exchanged, "not now." The old lady looked grave.

Just then Prulliere passed by and shook hands with her, while two little chorus girls stood gazing at her with looks of deep emotion.

For a moment she seemed to hesitate.

Then she beckoned to Simonne, and the rapid exchange of sentences began again.
"Yes," said Simonne at last.

"In half an hour." But as she was going upstairs again to her dressing room, Mme Bron, who was once more going the rounds with letters, presented one to her.
Bordenave lowered his voice and furiously reproached the portress for having allowed the Tricon to come in.