“That’s right! Not so bad, though it and the boulevards are a few miles apart! But, on the other hand, I am interested in my work, and I am married to a charming woman – Spanish.”

“Won’t you introduce me to your wife?”

“When we are nearer to her, old fellow! I came to Paris by myself to talk big business with Thomery. I am here for a fortnight only.... Now do point out some of the celebrities – you know everybody! “

Charley adjusted his eyeglass and looked about the room. “Ah, there’s an interesting pair! That old fellow and the young one, who are so extraordinarily alike – the Barbey-Nanteuils, bankers for generations in the financial swim, and mixed up in all sorts of big affairs, sugar among them.... Look here! That’s the widow of an iron master, Allouat – she is passing close to the orchestra – not bad-looking, in spite of her mahogany-coloured hair, granddaughter of a famous French peer, Flavogny de Saint-Ange... Ah, I breathe again! ...It’s a detail, but I am quite delighted! General de Ruil’s daughters have at last found partners: they are ugly, poor things, and they’ve dressed themselves in rose-pink as though they were schoolgirls: a fine name, a distinguished position, but no fortune, and no husband... Ah, now there’s someone who looks as if he were in luck – and he is too – matrimonial luck. The affair is settled this evening, it’s whispered. It will interest you particularly, for the lucky fellow is none other than Thomery!”

“What! Thomery?”

“Yes, Thomery! Although he is well over fifty he means to commit matrimony! I quite envy him his future wife, my Andral! There she is! That regal lady who is going towards the last of the reception rooms all alone, rather haughty, but a noble creature – it’s Princess Sonia Danidoff, related to the Tzar in some distant way and with an immense fortune. Just look, dear boy, at those splendid jewels on that beautiful neck of hers! They say she’s got on seven hundred thousand francs’ worth – and the rest to match – millions to swell the sugar refiner’s coffers. She is to lead the cotillion with him, so there’s no doubt about the betrothal. By-the-by, you are going to stay for the cotillion?”

“Hum! I...”