"Phew! You could make yourself useful in other ways," M. Raindal said. "True!..." Schleifmann said in a low voice, as if he were addressing his own soul. "In 1871, the Commune came!" But Cyprien missed the tragic retort. He was already lost in joyful thoughts of the morrow. He imagined with glee how stupefied his brother would be when he heard: "Well! How is old Herschstein! And that charming Mme. Pums?... and the honorable M. Burzig!..." He laughed so loudly that he apologized to Schleifmann. "Forgive me, I was thinking of something so funny.... Ha, ha! It is wonderful!" He felt moved to show his gratitude: "Here, Schleifmann, you will not refuse a glass of kirchenwasser?... Garçon, kirchenwasser and two glasses, two big ones, customers' glasses, you know!..." The waiter returned with a bottle protected by a cover of twisted straw. Cyprien poured two big drinks and lifted his glass to touch that of his friend. "To humanity, Schleifmann!" he said courteously. "To France!" the Galician replied, and they toasted. * * * * * At the same time, the Raindal family were making their entry into the salon of Mme. Chambannes. Zozé stepped out rapidly to meet them. She wore a loose dress of pink silk with subdued flowered-work. It gave her the silhouette of a Spanish princess. Chambannes followed her; he was perhaps smiling under the mystery of his huge blonde mustache. Then began the series of introductions. Ladies first: little Mme. Pums, in a tight-fitting black robe with gold spangles, which made her plump face appear even fresher, whiter by contrast and gave added zest to her red hair; Mme. de Marquesse, a tall blonde with a horsy jaw, whose mauve crêpe dress showed, revealed about the hips, the massive bones of a Republic or a Liberty; Mme. Silberschmidt, a thin dark woman with the face of a sick hen; Mme. Herschstein, more angular and haughty in her white satin corsage than a lady of ancient lineage. Then came the men, one by one, as they happened. They bowed low; all gave deferential yet curious looks; all shook hands eagerly and yet with shyness; they spoke in respectful but unfinished sentences, as one does in the presence of a foreign potentate with whose etiquette and language one is not very well acquainted.