"As for me," said Thémines, renewing the conversation, "the longer I live, the more clearly I see that the chief singularity which attracts even the most obdurate, is passable features"--and he threw a complaisant glance in a mirror opposite--"passable features and good taste in dress," and he filliped a crumb of bread off his coat. "Bah!" cried the dwarf, "with good looks and a coat by Staub, there are plenty of women to be had for a week at a time, but we should be tired of them at the second meeting. More than that is needed to win what is called love.... You must...." "Stop!" interrupted Thémines. "Do you want an apt illustration? You all know what kind of man Massigny was. Manners like an English groom, and no more conversation than his horse.... But he was as handsome as Adonis, and could tie his cravat like Brummel. Altogether he was the greatest bore I have ever met." "He almost killed me with weariness," said Colonel Beaujeu. "Only think, I once had to travel two hundred leagues with him!" "Did you know," asked Saint-Clair, "that he caused the death of poor Richard Thornton, whom you all knew?" "But," objected Jules, "I thought he was assassinated by brigands near Fondi?" "Granted; but Massigny was at all events an accomplice in the crime. A party of travellers, Thornton among them, had arranged to go to Naples together to avoid attacks from brigands. Massigny asked to be allowed to join them. As soon as Thornton heard this, he set out before the others, apparently to avoid being long with Massigny. He started alone, and you know the rest." "Thornton took the only course," said Thémines; "he chose the easiest of two deaths. We should all have done the same in his place." Then, after a pause, "You grant me," he went on, "that Massigny was the greatest bore on earth?" "Certainly," they all cried with one accord. "Don't let us despair," said Jules; "let us make an exception in favour of ... especially when he divulges his political intrigues." "You will next grant me," continued Thémines, "that Madam de Coursy is as clever a woman as can be found anywhere." A moment's silence followed. Saint-Clair looked down and fancied that all eyes were fixed on himself. "Who disputes it?" he said at length, still bending over his plate apparently to examine more closely the flowers painted in the china. "I maintain," said Jules, raising his voice--"I maintain that she is one of the three most fascinating women in Paris." "I knew her husband," said the Colonel, "he often showed me her charming letters." "Auguste," interrupted Hector Roquantin, "do introduce me to the Countess. They say you can do anything with her." "When she returns to Paris at the end of autumn,..." murmured Saint-Clair, "I--I believe she does not entertain visitors in the country." "Will you listen to me?" exclaimed Thémines. Silence was restored. Saint-Clair figetted upon his chair like a prisoner before his judges.