Three big wenches with untidy hair and dirty gowns appeared on the doorstep.

They were munching apples and spitting out the cores, but the two men bowed their heads and patiently braved their impudent looks and rough speeches, though they were hustled and, as it were, soiled by these trollops, who amused themselves by pushing each other down upon them.
At that very moment Nana descended the three steps.

She grew very pale when she noticed Muffat.
"Oh, it's you!" she stammered.
The sniggering extra ladies were quite frightened when they recognized her, and they formed in line and stood up, looking as stiff and serious as servants whom their mistress has caught behaving badly.

The tall fair gentleman had moved away; he was at once reassured and sad at heart.
"Well, give me your arm," Nana continued impatiently.
They walked quietly off.

The count had been getting ready to question her and now found nothing to say.
It was she who in rapid tones told a story to the effect that she had been at her aunt's as late as eight o'clock, when, seeing Louiset very much better, she had conceived the idea of going down to the theater for a few minutes.
"On some important business ?" he queried.
"Yes, a new piece," she replied after some slight hesitation.