But she laughed merrily and remarked:
"It's idiotic! You won't know him; I've only to say, 'Come here,' for
him to chuck up everything."
For some seconds past she had been examining the Countess Sabine and
Estelle. Daguenet was still at their side. Fauchery had just arrived
and was disturbing the people round him in his desire to make his bow
to them. He, too, stayed smilingly beside them. After that Nana pointed
with disdainful action at the stands and continued:
"Then, you know, those people don't fetch me any longer now! I know 'em
too well. You should see 'em behind scenes. No more honor! It's all
up with honor! Filth belowstairs, filth abovestairs, filth everywhere.
That's why I won't be bothered about 'em!"
And with a comprehensive gesture she took in everybody, from the grooms
leading the horses on to the course to the sovereign lady busy chatting
with with Charles, a prince and a dirty fellow to boot.
"Bravo, Nana! Awfully smart, Nana!" cried La Faloise enthusiastically.
The tolling of a bell was lost in the wind; the races continued. The
Prix d'Ispahan had just been run for and Berlingot, a horse belonging to
the Mechain stable, had won. Nana recalled Labordette in order to obtain
news of the hundred louis, but he burst out laughing and refused to
let her know the horses he had chosen for her, so as not to disturb the
luck, as he phrased it.
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