"I came out early to order a dinner fit for an archbishop at Chevet's.

Just see how the carpets are stained! What sort of people did you have here ?" "You needn't complain, for Fanny Beaupre told me you were coming to dinner with Camusot, and to please you I've invited Tullia, du Bruel, Mariette, the Duc de Maufrigneuse, Florine, and Nathan.

So you'll have the four loveliest creatures ever seen behind the foot-lights; we'll dance you a 'pas de Zephire.'" "It is enough to kill you to lead such a life!" cried old Cardot; "and look at the broken glasses! What pillage! The antechamber actually makes me shudder--" At this instant the wrathful old gentleman stopped short as if magnetized, like a bird which a snake is charming.

He saw the outline of a form in a black coat through the door of the boudoir.
"Ah, Mademoiselle Cabirolle!" he said at last.
"Well, what ?" she asked.
The eyes of the danseuse followed those of the little old man; and when she recognized the presence of the clerk she went off into such fits of laughter that not only was the old gentleman nonplussed, but Oscar was compelled to appear; for Florentine took him by the arm, still pealing with laughter at the conscience-stricken faces of the uncle and nephew.
"You here, nephew ?" "Nephew! so he's your nephew ?" cried Florentine, with another burst of laughter.

"You never told me about him.