The studio was set in order, a fire kindled in the stove, the stretcher of a picture, garnished with composite candles, suspended from the ceiling as a chandelier, and a writing table placed in the middle of the studio to serve as a rostrum for the orators.

The solitary armchair, which was to be reserved for the influential critic, was placed in front of it, and upon a table were arranged all the books, romances, poems, pamphlets, &c., the authors of which were to honor the company with their presence.
In order to avoid any collision between members of the different schools of literature, the studio had been, moreover, divided into four compartments, at the entrance to each of which could be read, on four hurriedly manufactured placards, the inscriptions--"Poets," "Prose Writers," "Classic School," and "Romantic School." The ladies were to occupy a space reserved in the middle of the studio.
"Humph! Chairs are lacking," said Rodolphe.
"Oh!" remarked Marcel, "there are several on the landing, fastened along the wall.

Suppose we were to gather them." "Certainly, let us gather them by all means," said Rodolphe, starting off to seize on the chairs, which belonged to some neighbor.
Six o'clock struck: the two friends went off to a hasty dinner, and returned to light up the saloons.

They were themselves dazzled by the result.

At seven o'clock Schaunard arrived, accompanied by three ladies, who had forgotten their diamonds and their bonnets.