All of them were dreaming of some royal caprice, some night to be paid for by a fortune.
"Now tell me, dear boy," Caroline Hequet asked Vandeuvres, leaning forward as she did so, "how old's the emperor of Russia ?" "Oh, he's 'present time,'" replied the count, laughing.

"Nothing to be done in that quarter, I warn you." Nana made pretense of being hurt.

The witticism appeared somewhat too stinging, and there was a murmur of protest.

But Blanche gave a description of the king of Italy, whom she had once seen at Milan.

He was scarcely good looking, and yet that did not prevent him enjoying all the women.