"You seem in trouble." "I do?
Not at all.

I've been working: that's why I came so late." Then coldly, in one of those heroic moods which, although unnoticed, are wont to solve the vulgar tragedies of existence: "All the same, I haven't made my bow to our hosts.

One must be civil." He even ventured on a joke, for he turned to La Faloise and said: "Eh, you idiot ?" And with that he pushed his way through the crowd.

The valet's full voice was no longer shouting out names, but close to the door the count and countess were still talking, for they were detained by ladies coming in.

At length he joined them, while the gentlemen who were still on the garden steps stood on tiptoe so as to watch the scene.