Vice and crime must have their instruments; instruments are invariably indiscreet, and thus secrets escape.

The palace intrigues, the intrigues with other states, the influence of certain women, there was nothing which they did not know.
Seen thus from below, the whole society appeared rotten and corrupted, coarse to the last degree, and animated only by the lowest motives.

This very gossip seemed in itself criminal to Felix, but he did not at the moment reflect that it was but the tale of servants.

Had such language been used by gentlemen, then it would have been treason.

As himself of noble birth, Felix had hitherto seen things only from the point of view of his own class.