"Who's riding Nana?" queried La Faloise.
Just then the real Nana reappeared, whereat the gentlemen lent his
question an indecent meaning and burst into an uproarious fit of
laughter. Nana bowed.
"Price is up," she replied.
And with that the discussion began again. Price was an English
celebrity. Why had Vandeuvres got this jockey to come over, seeing that
Gresham ordinarily rode Nana? Besides, they were astonished to see him
confiding Lusignan to this man Gresham, who, according to La Faloise,
never got a place. But all these remarks were swallowed up in jokes,
contradictions and an extraordinarily noisy confusion of opinions. In
order to kill time the company once more set themselves to drain bottles
of champagne. Presently a whisper ran round, and the different groups
opened outward. It was Vandeuvres. Nana affected vexation.
"Dear me, you're a nice fellow to come at this time of day! Why, I'm
burning to see the enclosure."
"Well, come along then," he said; "there's still time. You'll take a
stroll round with me. I just happen to have a permit for a lady about
me."
And he led her off on his arm while she enjoyed the jealous glances with
which Lucy, Caroline and the others followed her.
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