By rising on tiptoes, as the drawing-room entrance was wide open, he could distinguish the backs of the women who were already seated, rows of necks crowned with fair or dark hair.

The Mauritanians were doubtless executing their first dance.

He did not see them, but he could divine the lascivious passion of the dance from the quiver of all those women's necks, which swayed as beneath a great gust of wind.

Then laughter arose and a tempest of bravos, quite a tumult of enjoyment.
"I can't put my hand on the Princess; you must wait a little," Massot returned to say.

"I met Janzen and he promised to bring her to me.