Then every one went to supper in the most perfect order, the ladies sitting down and the gentlemen standing while they ate and drank.

Sometimes a few glasses of champagne were drained to toast the ladies who were present, or, perhaps, some of the celebrities of the day.

Then, after a little brief but lively conversation, a few more quadrilles and waltzes would be danced, and at eleven o'clock the ladies would rise and retire, and only a few dandies--the younger and the older men as a rule--would remain behind for a glass or two, or a hand at cards.
From this every one can easily see that at these evening entertainments there was not the slightest thing that could be considered an offence against good manners or good morals.

Oh no! Mr.Kecskerey would never have allowed such a thing; he was too proud of his renown for that.

He was no minister of love, not he! He only gave people the opportunity of meeting together if they liked, and that is entirely a personal matter, of course.
An especially grand assembly was to be held at Mr.Kecskerey's on the day fixed for Fanny's appearance by Abellino and his friends.