Andrea spent the remaining hours before nine o'clock riding around, making visits designed to ensure that the people he'd mentioned would show up at the banker's mansion in their finest carriages. He dazzled them with promises of shares in ventures that would later drive everyone crazy, schemes in which Danglars was now taking the lead.
By half past eight that evening, the main hall, adjoining gallery, and three other sitting rooms on the same floor were packed with a perfumed crowd. Most didn't really care about the event itself, but everyone loved being present when there was something new to see.
The rooms were brilliantly lit, light streaming over the gold moldings and silk wall hangings. All the tasteless decorations, which had only their expense to boast about, shone in their full glory.
