Paul excepted--that gentleman, too, being the sole creature of his sex permitted to lead out a pupil to the dance; and this exceptional part was allowed him, partly as a matter of old-established custom (for he was a kinsman of Madame Beck's, and high in her confidence), partly because he would always have his own way and do as he pleased, and partly because--wilful, passionate, partial, as he might be--he was the soul of honour, and might be trusted with a regiment of the fairest and purest; in perfect security that under his leadership they would come to no harm.

Many of the girls--it may be noted in parenthesis--were not pure-minded at all, very much otherwise; but they no more dare betray their natural coarseness in M.Paul's presence, than they dare tread purposely on his corns, laugh in his face during a stormy apostrophe, or speak above their breath while some crisis of irritability was covering his human visage with the mask of an intelligent tiger.

M.Paul, then, might dance with whom he would--and woe be to the interference which put him out of step.
Others there were admitted as spectators--with (seeming) reluctance, through prayers, by influence, under restriction, by special and difficult exercise of Madame Beck's gracious good-nature, and whom she all the evening--with her own personal surveillance--kept far aloof at the remotest, drearest, coldest, darkest side of the carre--a small, forlorn band of "jeunes gens;" these being all of the best families, grown-up sons of mothers present, and whose sisters were pupils in the school.

That whole evening was Madame on duty beside these "jeunes gens"-- attentive to them as a mother, but strict with them as a dragon.
There was a sort of cordon stretched before them, which they wearied her with prayers to be permitted to pass, and just to revive themselves by one dance with that "belle blonde," or that "jolie brune," or "cette jeune fille magnifique aux cheveux noirs comme le jais." "Taisez-vous!" Madame would reply, heroically and inexorably.

"Vous ne passerez pas a moins que ce ne soit sur mon cadavre, et vous ne danserez qu'avec la nonnette du jardin" (alluding to the legend).