The persons present were, for the most part, fellow _savants_, with a few young men, and even a lady or two, and, of course, an occasional journalist.

The whole made up a kind of family gathering, the visitors chatting with the master in all freedom.
Directly Bertheroy perceived Pierre he came forward, pressed his hand and seated him on a chair beside Guillaume's son Francois, who had been one of the first arrivals.

The young man was completing his third year at the Ecole Normale, close by, so he only had a few steps to take to call upon his master Bertheroy, whom he regarded as one of the firmest minds of the age.

Pierre was delighted to meet his nephew, for he had been greatly impressed in his favour on the occasion of his visit to Montmartre.
Francois, on his side, greeted his uncle with all the cordial expansiveness of youth.

He was, moreover, well pleased to obtain some news of his father.
However, Bertheroy began.