There were a number of military-men at the ball, more than any of the Darcys would have assumed in peace-time. The French officers were easily recognised by their shockingly tight cloathes, in which, Elizabeth conjectured, it would be impossible to fight without soon becoming ragged and indecent. The Russians were easily distinguished by their ridiculous, long, bright-green frock coats that sported a kind of bustle at the back, and were tied about the waist with a gold scarf, concluding with a long tassel that Elizabeth thought would have been placed to better advantage restraining a curtain than a torso. The English officers were in their customary red or blue coats, and looked quite plain—but with more real elegance—when compared to the vast array of ornament on their Austrian, Prussian, or French counter-parts. The Prussians and Austrians were easily known by their enormous moustaches and dark countenances, which appeared so not much by any action of the complexion, but as the result of severe opinion and censorious thought. These three nations comprised the majority of the other foreigners present, with the exception of a few Swedes, Italians, and Americans. The Swedes were tall, handsome men, elegantly dressed in uniforms of blue and gold, all wearing a sash and order; the Italians were, as was to be expected, the most ornately dressed, but, thought Elizabeth, were more easily distinguished from their martial peers by their smiles, easy laughter, and energetic chivalry, directed toward everyone in some measure, but—as would be expected—especially toward the ladies. And, the Italians were certainly less prejudiced toward the younger ladies—bowing, complimenting, and kissing the hands of any woman within reach. The Americans, although there were no military representatives present, were also easily separated by their simple dress, entirely deprived of sashes, insignias, medals, or other badges (which, thought Elizabeth, seemed to be displayed in a profusion inversely proportionate to the merit of their wearer), and entirely unaffected speech and manners. Apart from silver epaulettes and buttons, the English officers appeared little different in their dress from the other gentlemen present, and their restrained courtesy would have pleased Elizabeth better had she not observed the open, engaging manners of the French, and the warm, unaffected sociability of the Italians. It was, she considered, an entirely foreign idea to the English consciousness, that manners and good-breeding could exist along-side—nay, be complemented by—an intercourse characterised by an active, familiar expression of interest in the thoughts, speech, and feelings of their fellow beings, entirely untainted by disrespect, impertinence, or impropriety.