He actually took a small mirror from his pocket and looked at himself in most evident admiration.
"I really believe," he said at length, pocketing the little looking-glass, "that a woman might love me still.

What do you say ?" "Doubtless," I answered politely, although I was beginning to be annoyed, "a woman might love you at first sight.

But it would be more dignified for you not to love her." "Dignity!" He laughed long and loud, a cutting laugh, like the breaking of glass.

"There is another of your phrases.

Excuse my amusement, Signor Grandi, but the idea of dignity always makes me smile." He called that thing a smile! "It is in everybody's mouth,--the dignity of the State, the dignity of the king, the dignity of woman, the dignity of father, mother, schoolmaster, soldier.