He had lived a life of noisy debauch, full of duels, bets, elopements; he had squandered his fortune and frightened all his family.

A servant behind his chair named aloud to him in his ear the dishes that he pointed to stammering, and constantly Emma's eyes turned involuntarily to this old man with hanging lips, as to something extraordinary.

He had lived at court and slept in the bed of queens! Iced champagne was poured out.

Emma shivered all over as she felt it cold in her mouth.

She had never seen pomegranates nor tasted pineapples.