He lay sprawling like a huge turtle in the midst of them until the tyrant, after rubbing his eyes and stretching his burly limbs, came to the rescue, and held out a helping hand, by aid of which the old actor managed with some difficulty to scramble to his feet.
"Such an accident as that could never happen to Matamore," said Herode, with his resounding laugh; "he might fall into a spider's web without breaking through it." "That's true," retorted the shadow of a man, in his turn stretching his long attenuated limbs and yawning tremendously, "but then, you know, not everybody has the advantage of being a second Polyphemus, a mountain of flesh and bones, like you, or a big wine-barrel, like our friend Blazius there." All this commotion had aroused Isabelle, Serafina and the duenna, who presently made their appearance.

The two younger women, though a little pale and weary, yet looked very charming in the bright morning light.

In de Sigognac's eyes they appeared radiant, in spite of the shabbiness of their finery, which was far more apparent now than on the preceding evening.

But what signify faded ribbons and dingy gowns when the wearers are fresh, young and beautiful?
Besides, the baron's eyes were so accustomed to dinginess that they were not capable of detecting such slight defects in the toilets of his fair guests, and he gazed with delight upon these bewitching creatures, enraptured with their grace and beauty.

As to the duenna, she was both old and ugly, and had long ago accepted the inevitable with commendable resignation.
As the ladies entered by one door, Pierre came in by the other, bringing more wood for the fire, and then proceeding to make the disordered room as tidy as he could.