The dinners were discriminately, if unconventionally, ordered.

Chantelouve, rotund, jovial, bade everyone make himself at home.

Now and then through his smoked spectacles there stole an ambiguous look which might have given an analyst pause, but the man's bonhomie, quite ecclesiastical, was instantly disarming.

Madame was no beauty, but possessed a certain bizarre charm and was always surrounded.

She, however, remained silent and did nothing to encourage her voluble admirers.