A smile flitted over
Wilhelm's face, over Paul's came a reverent expression. What he saw
made a distinct impression of wonderment on him. The constraint
ceased immediately the guests had taken their places at the table.
The scent of the flowers vied with the perfumes worn by the women
and could not overcome them. The crystal glasses sparkled in the
light of the wax candles, the jewels, and the bright eyes round the
table. The servants poured out the noble Rhine wine, the celebrated
Burgundy, the elegant Bordeaux, and the mischievous Champagne, whose
colored embodiment was reflected on the white hands of the guests,
and carried their imaginations away in its flight from gray reality
to the immortal land of rosy dreams.
The meal lasted a long time, then a few of the guests rose; the
older ones, who had principally chatted, played, and smoked before
midnight, now withdrew, if they had no daughters to chaperon; the
young people, however, went back to the dancing-room, the musicians
fiddled anew as if they were possessed, and an hour's cotillion was
begun, the pretty quick-moving figures being led by a lieutenant of
the Guards, who seemed as proud of the honor as if he were
commanding on a battlefield. Loulou, who had gone back to the dance,
had begged Wilhelm in vain to take part at least in the cotillion,
where he need not dance much.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81