He had his mother's face, and a covetousness and slyness of character prone to trivial intrigues, in which his father's instincts predominated.

Nature has need of symmetry.

Short, with a pitiful countenance suggesting the knob of a stick carved into a Punch's head, Aristide ferretted and fumbled everywhere, without any scruples, eager only to gratify himself.

He loved money as his eldest brother loved power.

While Eugene dreamed of bending a people to his will, and intoxicated himself with visions of future omnipotence, the other fancied himself ten times a millionaire, installed in a princely mansion, eating and drinking to his heart's content, and enjoying life to the fullest possible extent.