The host and his family live down-stairs in small, dirty rooms, furnished in a very different, and for them more comfortable, style.

At ordinary times the fine rooms are closed, and the fine furniture carefully covered.
If you make a visite de politesse after an entertainment, you will probably have some difficulty in gaining admission by the front door.
When you have knocked or rung several times, some one will come round from the back regions and ask you what you want.

Then follows another long pause, and at last footsteps are heard approaching from within.

The bolts are drawn, the door is opened, and you are led up to a spacious drawing-room.

At the wall opposite the windows there is sure to be a sofa, and before it an oval table.