He sat stooping humbly forward and behaved with much good nature, as became a man of no account, nor did he seem to notice the anxious deference with which he was treated.

When he had succeeded in getting the company to forget his presence he sat nibbling small lumps of sugar during dessert, looking sharply up at Daguenet as the latter handed Estelle strawberries and listening to Fauchery, who was making the countess very merry over one of his anecdotes.

Whenever anyone looked at HIM he smiled in his quiet way.

When the guests rose from table he took the count's arm and drew him into the park.

He was known to have exercised great influence over the latter ever since the death of his mother.