But Robert thought he saw that significant look pass for a second time between de Courcelles and Boucher.

The long dinner drew to its close and the invited guests passed into the private ballroom, where the band began to play dance music.

In the other ballroom, the one intended for the general public, the people were dancing already, and another band was playing.
Now Bigot was in his element, swelling with importance and good humor, easy, graceful, jesting with men and women, wishing the world well, knowing that he could milk from the royal treasury the money he was spending tonight, and troubled by no twinges of conscience.

Cadet hovered near his powerful partner and Pean, Maurin, Penisseault and Corpron were not far away.

Robert looked with interest at the ballroom which was decorated gorgeously.