Nana (Barnes & Noble Classics) - Emile Zola [202]
“All the same,” concluded Madame Chantereau, “Estelle might have made a far better match.”
There was a flourish of music. It was the commencement of a quadrille. The crowd moved to the sides of the room to leave an open space. Light dresses passed, mixed with the dark dress suits; whilst the blaze of light shone on the sea of heads, illuminating the sparkling jewels, the waving white plumes, and the bloom of lilac and roses. It was already very warm. A penetrating perfume rose from the light tulles, the satins, and the silks, among which the bare shoulders paled, beneath the lively notes of the orchestra. Through the open doors one could see rows of women seated in the adjacent rooms, with a discreet brightness in their smile, a sparkle in their eyes, a pout on their lips, gently fanning themselves. And guests still continued to arrive. A footman announced their names, whilst amidst the various groups gentlemen slowly tried to find places for the ladies on their arms, standing on tiptoe in search of a vacant chair. But the house was filling, the skirts were packing closer together with a slight noise. There were places where a mass of lace, bows, and flounces barred the way, the wearers politely resigned, retaining all their grace, accustomed as they were to such brilliant crushes. However, out in the garden, in the roseate light of the Venetian lanterns, couples were wandering about, having escaped from the stifling atmosphere of the great drawing-room. The shadows of dresses passed over the lawn, as though keeping time to the music of the quadrille, which sounded softer in the distance behind the trees.
Steiner, who was there, had just come across Foucarmont and La Faloise partaking of champagne in the refreshment tent.
“It’s awfully swell,” La Faloise was saying, while examining the purple tent, and the gilded lances which supported it. “One could almost think oneself at the gingerbread fair. Yes, that’s it! the gingerbread fair!”
He now affected to continually poke fun at everything, posing as a young man who was sick of the world, and who could find nothing worthy of being looked at in a serious light.
“Wouldn’t poor Vandeuvres be surprised if he returned here?” murmured Foucarmont. “Don’t you recollect when he used to be bored to death over there, opposite the fire-place? By Jove! no one laughed then.”
“Vandeuvres! don’t mention him, he’s extinguished!” resumed La Faloise, disdainfully. “He was greatly mistaken if he thought he was going to astonish us with his roasting! Not a soul talks of it now. He’s out of it, done for, scratched. Vandeuvres! talk of another!” Then, as Steiner shook hands with them, he continued, “You know Nana’s just arrived. Oh! such an entry, my boy! something prodigious! First of all, she embraced the countess; then, when the children drew near, she blessed them, saying to Daguenet, ‘Listen, Paul; if you deceive her you’ll have me after you.’ What! didn’t you see it? Oh! she was grand! such a success!”
The other two listened to him with their mouths open. At length they burst out laughing. He, delighted, thought himself very wonderful.
“Eh! you believed it all? Well, why not? It’s Nana who arranged the marriage. Besides, she’s one of the family.”
The two Hugons passed just then, and Philippe made him desist. Then, as men, they talked of the marriage. George became very incensed with La Faloise, who related the story of it. Nana had indeed saddled Muffat with one of her former lovers for a son-in-law, only it was untrue that she had had Daguenet to see her the night before. Foucarmont incredulously shrugged his shoulders. Did any one ever know whom Nana had to see her of a night? But George angrily replied with a “Sir, I know!” which made them all laugh. Anyhow, as Steiner said, it was a very peculiar state of affairs.
Little by little the refreshment tent was becoming crowded. They moved away from the bar, without separating. La Faloise stared impudently at the women, as though he thought himself