Painful as the feelings of the marquis were, he had the courage to conceal them, and, advancing towards Madame de la Rochaiguë, with a smile on his lips and an ironical gleam in his eye, he said:
"I am very bold, am I not, my dear baroness? But you know, or rather you are ignorant, that one has friends only to impose upon their good nature, at least unless, like Mlle. de la Rochaiguë here," he added, bowing low to that lady, "one has no faults at all, but is nothing more or less than an angel descended from heaven for the edification of the faithful. Then it is even worse, I believe, for when one is perfect, one inspires one's friends with envy, or with admiration, for with many people these two sentiments are one and the same."
Then, turning to M. de la Rochaiguë, he continued:
"Am I not right, baron? I appeal to you who have the good fortune not to wound either by your virtues or your failings."
The baron smiled until he showed his long teeth in the most startling fashion, then, trying to conceal his ill-humour, he exclaimed:
"Ah, marquis, marquis, always sarcastic, but always charming!"
Then seeing that he could not avoid introducing M. de Maillefort to Ernestine, who was watching the hunchback with growing uneasiness, the baron said to his ward:
"My dear Ernestine, allow me to introduce M. le Marquis de Maillefort, one of my particular friends."
After bowing to the young girl, who returned the bow with an embarrassed air, the hunchback said, with formal politeness:
"I am delighted, mademoiselle, to have still another reason for often coming to Madame de la Rochaiguë's house."