and his follower made the number up to eighteen. Most of the party

were smoking, and drinking champagne; a feverish hilarity reigned,

with sudden and rather ghastly pauses.

"Is this a full meeting?" asked the Prince.

"Middling," said the President. "By the way," he added, "if you

have any money, it is usual to offer some champagne. It keeps up a

good spirit, and is one of my own little perquisites."

"Hammersmith," said Florizel, "I may leave the champagne to you."

And with that he turned away and began to go round among the

guests. Accustomed to play the host in the highest circles, he

charmed and dominated all whom he approached; there was something

at once winning and authoritative in his address; and his

extraordinary coolness gave him yet another distinction in this

half maniacal society. As he went from one to another he kept both

his eyes and ears open, and soon began to gain a general idea of

the people among whom he found himself. As in all other places of

resort, one type predominated: people in the prime of youth, with

every show of intelligence and sensibility in their appearance, but

with little promise of strength or the quality that makes success.

Few were much above thirty, and not a few were still in their

teens. They stood, leaning on tables and shifting on their feet;

sometimes they smoked extraordinarily fast, and sometimes they let

their cigars go out; some talked well, but the conversation of

others was plainly the result of nervous tension, and was equally

without wit or purport. As each new bottle of champagne was

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