Phemie, who had never been to such a place before, seemed in a state of ecstacy at drinking out of glasses with feet.

Marcel was quarreling with Musette about a new bonnet which he had not given her.

Mimi and Rodolphe, who were in their honeymoon, carried on a silent conversation, alternated with suspicious noises.

As to Colline, he went about from one to the other, distributing among them all the polite and ornamental phrases which he had picked up in the "Muses' Almanac." While this joyous company was thus abandoning itself to sport and laughter, a stranger at the bottom of the room, who occupied a table by himself, was observing with extraordinary attention the animated scene before him.

For a fortnight or thereabout, he had come thus every night, being the only customer who could stand the terrible row which the club made.