noon
Beau Nash stood at the door of the rooms , smiling blandly upon a dainty throng in the pink of its finery and gay furbelows . The great exquisite bent his body constantly in a series of consummately adjusted bows : before a great dowager , seeming to sweep the floor in august deference ; somewhat stately to the young bucks ; greeting the wits with gracious friendliness and a twinkle of raillery ; inclining with fatherly gallantry before the beauties ; the degree of his inclination measured the altitude of the recipient as accurately as a nicely calculated sand-glass measures the hours . The King of Bath was happy , for wit , beauty , fashion -- to speak more concretely : nobles , belles , gamesters , beaux , statesmen , and poets -- made fairyland -LRB- or opera bouffe , at least -RRB- in his dominions ; play ran higher and higher , and Mr. Nash 's coffers filled up with gold . To crown his pleasure , a prince of the French blood , the young Comte de Beaujolais , just arrived from Paris , had reached Bath at noon in state , accompanied by the Marquis de Mirepoix , the ambassador of Louis XV . The Beau dearly prized the society of the lofty , and the present visit was an honor to Bath : hence to the Master of Ceremonies . What was better , there would be some profitable hours with the cards and dice . So it was that Mr. Nash smiled never more benignly than on that bright evening .