But their voices were discreetly attuned, while light trills of laughter now and again interrupted the gravity of their talk.

The two lamps on the chimney piece, which had shades of rose-colored lace, cast a feeble light over them while on scattered pieces of furniture there burned but three other lamps, so that the great drawing room remained in soft shadow.
Steiner was getting bored.

He was describing to Fauchery an escapade of that little Mme de Chezelles, whom he simply referred to as Leonide.
"A blackguard woman," he said, lowering his voice behind the ladies' armchairs.

Fauchery looked at her as she sat quaintly perched, in her voluminous ball dress of pale blue satin, on the corner of her armchair.
She looked as slight and impudent as a boy, and he ended by feeling astonished at seeing her there.

People comported themselves better at Caroline Hequet's, whose mother had arranged her house on serious principles.