To the young Frenchman a Protestant theologian was a philosopher, rather than a priest under vows, hence a person of liberal views and probably of lax conduct. As toward a newly married man, and warned incessantly by the Marquise, he recognized that etiquette required that from him no invitation to dissipation should emanate, but that his attitude ought to be that of willingness to pilot the stranger whithersoever he might wish to go; occasionally pointing out that paths of pleasantness were open to such as might choose to wander in them. And though Leonard displayed no undue disposition to such wanderings, an intimacy resulted which was not in fact, though seemingly, incongruous.
"What is he like, this beautiful heretic?" asked the Marquise.
"Like a Greek god, as you see, mama."
"But otherwise; he is a priest, you know?"
"And, like other priests, with an eye for a pretty woman."
"But discreet, Adolphe? I hope he is discreet."
"As St. Anthony! Natalie may be easy."
"Be you equally discreet, my child. She has been most generous; and, remember, Adolphe——"
"Yes, mama. What am I to remember?"
"That when a woman marries a man for his beauty, it is not love; it is infatuation. Do not permit this Leonarr to go astray; he has proclivities."