They came streaming in, finding friends everywhere, laughing and talking, insisting upon tables in impossible places, calling out greetings to acquaintances across the room, chaffing the maitre d'hotel who was hastening from table to table.
The gathering babel of voices was mingled every now and then with the popping of corks, and behind it all were the soft strains of a very seductive little band, perched up in the balcony.

Tavernake felt the color mounting into his cheeks.

It was true: there was something here which was new to him! "Beatrice," he asked her suddenly, "have you ever drunk champagne ?" She laughed at him.
"Often, my dear brother," she answered.

"Why ?" "I never have," he confessed.

"We are going to have some now." She would have checked him but he had summoned a waiter imperiously and given his order.
"My dear Leonard," she protested, "this is shocking extravagance." "Is it ?" he replied.