When he wasn't in the tennis-courts, or the billiard- or card-rooms, he was generally to be found in this corner.

He had seen all manner of crowds, armies pursuing and retreating, vast concords in public squares, at coronations, at catastrophes, at play, and he never lost interest in watching them; they were the great expressions of humanity.

This is perhaps the reason why his articles were always so rich in color.

No two crowds were ever alike to him, consequently he never was at loss for a fresh description.
To-day the Italian vender of plaster statuettes caught his eye.

For an hour now the poor wretch hadn't even drawn the attention of one of the thousands passing.