Marcel has shown me the program of the fete, and the effect will be magical." "Will there be any ladies ?" "Yes.

Phemie Teinturiere has asked to be queen of the fete and Schaunard is to bring some ladies of position." This is in brief the origin of this fete which caused such stupefaction in the Bohemian world across the water.

For about a year past, Marcel and Rodolphe had announced this sumptuous gala which was always to take place "next Saturday," but painful circumstances had obliged their promise to extend over fifty-two weeks, so that they had come to pass of not being able to take a step without encountering some ironical remark from one of their friends, amongst whom there were some indiscreet enough to put forward energetic demand for its fulfillment.

The matter beginning to assume the character of a plague, the two friends resolved to put an end to it by liquidating the undertaking into which they had entered.

It was thus that they sent out the invitation given above.
"Now," said Rodolphe, "there is no drawing back.