But the Emperor’s friend covered himself with glory, for he danced everything, whether he knew it or not, and introduced impromptu pirouettes when the figures bewildered him..

[…]like what?—like the most beautiful pirouette by [Marie] Taglioni, let us say.

At last they paused, and a beautiful young woman sprang out of the ranks and began to pirouette in front of us with a grace and vigour which would have put most ballet girls to sha…

The way in which they dance; the height to which they spring; the impossible and inhuman extent to which they pirouette; […].