He made of De Marsay what Corporal Trim made of his cap, a perpetual instance.
“Ask De Marsay and you will see!”
Or again:
“The other day we were hunting, De Marsay and I, He would not believe me, but I jumped a hedge without moving on my horse!”
Or again:
“We were with some women, De Marsay and I, and upon my word of honor, I was——” etc.
Thus Paul de Manerville could not be classed amongst the great, illustrious, and powerful family of fools who succeed. He would one day be a deputy. For the time he was not even a young man. His friend, De Marsay, defined him thus: “You ask me what is Paul? Paul? Why, Paul de Manerville!”
“I am surprised, my dear fellow,” he said to De Marsay, “to see you here on a Sunday.”
“I was going to ask you the same question.”
“Is it an intrigue?”