Nana (Translated by Famous Works Library) 013

Author: (French) Zola, translated by Xu Hejin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: At nine o'clock at night, the grand hall of the Paris Varieté Theatre was still empty. A few people were waiting in the balcony and the front stalls, seemingly vanishing among the crimson velvet seats under the dim light of the chandeliers. The curtain was immersed in shadows, like a large patch of red stain, and no sound came from the stage. The footlights were extinguished, and the music stands were scattered everywhere. Only on the balcony above, around the dome, could cries and laughter be heard amidst the continuous chatter. The dome depicted a sky turned green by gas lamps, with several women and naked children flying across it, while beneath the large round windows with golden frames, rows of heads wearing flat hats and bowlers were visible. Sometimes, an usher appeared, looking busy with a program in her hand, asking a gentleman and a lady in front of her to hurry up and take their seats. The man wore a dinner jacket, and the woman, slim and, slowly scanned the surroundings. Two young people appeared in the front stalls. They stopped to look. "Didn't I tell you, Hector?" the older one said loudly. He was tall and had a small black mustache. "We came too early. You should let me finish my cigar." An usher walked over...