Parisians they led a life into which erotics entered largely.

Alphonse was never really in his element except when in female
society. Then all his exhilarating amiability came into play, and
when he leaned back at supper and held out his shallow champagne-
glass to be refilled, he was as beautiful as a happy god.

He had a neck of the kind which women long to caress, and his
soft, half-curling hair looked as if it were negligently arranged,
or carefully disarranged, by a woman's coquettish hand.

Indeed, many slim white fingers had passed through those locks;
for Alphonse had not only the gift of being loved by women, but
also the yet rarer gift of being forgiven by them.

When the friends were together at gay supper-parties, Alphonse
paid no particular heed to Charles. He kept no account of his own
love-affairs, far less of those of his friend. So it might easily
happen that a beauty on whom Charles had cast a longing eye fell
into the hands of Alphonse.

Charles was used to seeing his friend preferred in life; but there
are certain things to which men can scarcely accustom themselves.
He seldom went with Alphonse to his suppers, and it was always
long before the wine and the general exhilaration could bring him
into a convivial humor.

But then, when the champagne and the bright eyes had gone to his
head, he would often be the wildest of all; he would sing loudly
with his harsh voice, laugh and gesticulate so that his stiff