Presently, as he gave a long sigh and seemed to recover himself, she grew more coaxing and with grave kindness of manner added a final reason: "You see, dearie, you must try and understand how it is: I can't refuse it to my poor friends." The count consented to give way and only insisted that Georges should be dismissed once for all.

But all his illusions had vanished, and he no longer believed in her sworn fidelity.

Next day Nana would deceive him anew, and he only remained her miserable possessor in obedience to a cowardly necessity and to terror at the thought of living without her.
This was the epoch in her existence when Nana flared upon Paris with redoubled splendor.

She loomed larger than heretofore on the horizon of vice and swayed the town with her impudently flaunted splendor and that contempt of money which made her openly squander fortunes.

Her house had become a sort of glowing smithy, where her continual desires were the flames and the slightest breath from her lips changed gold into fine ashes, which the wind hourly swept away.