The waiters behind him were already busy removing the plates and dishes in obedience to the loudly voiced orders of the manager.

They rushed to and fro, jostled one another, caused the whole table to vanish, as a pantomime property might at the sound of the chief scene-shifter's whistle.

The ladies and gentlemen were to return to the drawing room after drinking their coffee.
"By gum, it's less hot here," said Gaga with a slight shiver as she entered the dining room.
The window here had remained open.

Two lamps illuminated the table, where coffee and liqueurs were set out.

There were no chairs, and the guests drank their coffee standing, while the hubbub the waiters were making in the next room grew louder and louder.