The bell in the vestibule rang. The doors opened and closed and Lesable
appeared.
He wore a black coat, a white cravat, and white gloves. He created a
stir. Cachelin sprang forward, embarrassed and delighted: "But, my dear
fellow, this is among ourselves. See me--I am in ordinary dress."
The young man replied: "I know, you told me so; but I never go out in
the evening without my dress-coat." He saluted, his opera-hat under his
arm, a flower in his buttonhole. César presented him: "My sister, Mlle
Charlotte; my daughter Coralie, whom at home we call Cora."
Everybody bowed. Cachelin continued: "We have no salon. It is rather
troublesome, but one gets used to it."