From the moment of his arrival he tried to show himself enraptured with Silviane.

Naturally enough, he already knew her by sight, and had even criticised her on one occasion in five or six contemptuous lines.

However, the sight of her there, in full beauty, clad like a queen, and presented by four influential protectors, filled him with emotion; and he was struck with the idea that nothing would be more Parisian and less pedantic than to assert she had some talent and give her his support.
They had seated themselves at table, and the repast proved a magnificent one, the service ever prompt and assiduous, an attendant being allotted to each diner.

While the flowers scattered their perfumes through the room, and the plate and crystal glittered on the snowy cloth, an abundance of delicious and unexpected dishes were handed round--a sturgeon from Russia, prohibited game, truffles as big as eggs, and hothouse vegetables and fruit as full of flavour as if they had been naturally matured.

It was money flung out of window, simply for the pleasure of wasting more than other people, and eating what they could not procure.