Read "His Excellency" by Émile Zola online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Towards seven o'clock on the evening of her arrival at CompiA"gne, Clorinde was engaged in conversation with M. de Plouguern near one of the windows in the Gallery of the Maps. They were waiting for the Emperor and Empress before entering the dining-room. The second batch of the season's guests had scarcely been more than three hours at the chActeau, and all of them had not yet come down from their rooms. Clorinde occupied herself by briefly criticising them as they entered the gallery, one by one. The ladies, in low dresses, and wearing flowers in their hair, put on smiles as soon as they reached the threshold; while the gentlemen, wearing white cravats, black knee-breeches, and silk stockings, preserved a solemn air.
'Ah; here comes the Chevalier! ' muttered Clorinde. 'He looks very nice, doesn't he? But just look at M. Beulin-d'OrchA"re, godfather! Doesn't he look as though he were going to bark? And, good heavens, what legs!'