"Do you mean this as a defence of the majority of statesmen of the present day?" retorted the domino. "The fact is we may now say, ugly as a minister!"
"Moreover, in this serious age, there is nothing more serious than ugliness."
"Without taking into consideration," said the domino, "that a hideous visage is always a sort of introduction and preparation for a future villainy, and in this sense it is very useful for certain statesmen to be ugly."
"To return to M. de Morville, I never heard of his wit," said M. de Brévannes, sarcastically.
"So much the better for him," replied M. de Gercourt; "I mistrust people whose bon-mots are cited, I should even doubt M. de Talleyrand's reputation if I had not heard him talk. Confess, however, my dear Brévannes, that Morville has not an enemy, in spite of the envy which his success must excite."
"Because he is a goose!" said the mask, doggedly; "persons who have really superior minds always have enemies."
"It seems to me, then, charming mask," retorted M. de Gercourt, "that your ferocious hostility proves Leon de Morville's superiority."
"Bah! bah!" replied the domino, without noticing this rejoinder; "the proof that M. de Morville is a poor creature is, that he always endeavours to produce an effect and make himself noticed; whether ridiculous or not, he does not care for the means by which he attains his desire."
"What do you mean?" inquired M. de Gercourt.
"We were just now alluding to the general admiration which the Princess de Hansfeld inspires," said the domino; "well, M. de Morville affects to do the reverse of all the world. He may be indifferent to Madame de Hansfeld's beauty;—granted. But it is a long way from indifference to aversion."