This, you know, is a neutral drawing-room where the black and the white worlds can fraternise.

And then too, there are so few _fetes_ that people rush on them." He went on to explain that there were two grand balls at Court every winter, but that it was only under exceptional circumstances that the _patriziato_ gave similar _galas_.

Two or three of the black _salons_ were opened once in a way towards the close of the Carnival, but little dances among intimates replaced the pompous entertainments of former times.

Some princesses moreover merely had their day.

And as for the few white _salons_ that existed, these likewise retained the same character of intimacy, more or less mixed, for no lady had yet become the undisputed queen of the new society.
"Well, here we are at last," resumed Narcisse as they eventually climbed the stairs.
"Let us keep together," Pierre somewhat anxiously replied.