But my last hope's blooming well blasted, and, oh, I used to dream about such nice things!" The noise of a quarrel caused them to rise.

It was Georges in the act of defending Vandeuvres against certain vague rumors which were circulating among the various groups.
"Why should you say that he's laying off his own horse ?" the young man was exclaiming.

"Yesterday in the Salon des Courses he took the odds on Lusignan for a thousand louis." "Yes, I was there," said Philippe in affirmation of this.

"And he didn't put a single louis on Nana.

If the betting's ten to one against Nana he's got nothing to win there.