and detached and illumined portions of the seated multitude, where

the ladies' dresses seemed to lose their distinguishing colors. But

Nana was especially amused by the ladies whom the shower had driven

from the rows of chairs ranged on the sand at the base of the

stands. As courtesans were absolutely forbidden to enter the

enclosure, she began making exceedingly bitter remarks about all the

fashionable women therein assembled. She thought them fearfully

There was a rumor that the empress was entering the little central