"I thought they'd keep us back tonight! What a nuisance they are with their calls!" The end had come; the curtain had just fallen.

There was a veritable stampede on the staircase--its walls rang with exclamations, and everyone was in a savage hurry to dress and be off.

As Count Muffat came down the last step or two he saw Nana and the prince passing slowly along the passage.

The young woman halted and lowered her voice as she said with a smile: "All right then--by and by!" The prince returned to the stage, where Bordenave was awaiting him.

And left alone with Nana, Muffat gave way to an impulse of anger and desire.
He ran up behind her and, as she was on the point of entering her dressing room, imprinted a rough kiss on her neck among little golden hairs curling low down between her shoulders.