She took their hands coaxingly and drew them along with her willy-nilly, accompanying her action with so frank an outburst of mirth that they all of them began laughing on trust.

The band vanished and returned after standing breathlessly for a second or two round Bordenave's lordly, outstretched form.

And then there was a burst of laughter, and when one of them told the rest to be quiet Bordenave's distant snorings became audible.
It was close on four o'clock.

In the dining room a card table had just been set out, at which Vandeuvres, Steiner, Mignon and Labordette had taken their seats.

Behind them Lucy and Caroline stood making bets, while Blanche, nodding with sleep and dissatisfied about her night, kept asking Vandeuvres at intervals of five minutes if they weren't going soon.