Page:The Bohemians of the Latin Quarter.djvu/139

the execution of the programme commenced. Each item was alternated with a round of drinks of some kind, no one ever knew what.

Towards ten o’clock the white waistcoat of the influential critic made its appearance. He only stayed an hour, and was very sober in his consumption of refreshments.

At midnight, as there was no more wood, and it was very cold, the guests who were seated drew lots as to who should cast his chair into the fire.

By one o’clock every one was standing.

Amiable gaiety did not cease to reign amongst the guests. There were no accidents to be regretted, with the exception of a rent in the foreign languages pocket of Colline’s swallow-tail and a smack in the face given by Schaunard to the daughter of Cromwell’s Lord Chancellor.

This memorable evening was for a week the staple subject of gossip in his district, and Phémie Teinturière, who had been the queen of the fête, was accustomed to remark, when talking it over with her friends,—

“It was awfully fine. There were composite candles, my dear.”