All the lustres shall be lit up, and I will have the wrappers taken off the furniture." That night at the cafe, Barbemuche announced that the party would come off next Saturday.

The Bohemians told their mistresses to think about their toilettes.
"Do not forget," said they, "that we are going into the real drawing rooms.

Therefore, make ready; a rich but simple costume." And from that day all the neighborhood was informed that Mademoiselles Phemie, Mimi, and Musette were going into society.
On the morning of the festivity, Colline, Schaunard, Marcel, and Rodolphe called, in a body, on Barbemuche, who looked astonished to see them so early.
"Has anything happened which will oblige us to put it off ?" he asked with some anxiety.
"Yes--that is, no," said Colline.

"This is how we are placed.

Among ourselves we never stand on ceremony, but when we are to meet strangers, we wish to preserve a certain decorum." "Well ?" said the other.
"Well," continued Colline, "since we are to meet tonight, the young gentleman to whom we are indebted for the rooms, out of respect to him and to ourselves, we come simply to ask you if you cannot lend us some becoming toggery.