Paul Visire had married money in the person of Mademoiselle Blampignon, an accomplished, estimable, and simple lady who was always ill, and whose feeble health compelled her to stay with her mother in the depths of a remote province.

The other Ministers' wives were not born to charm the sight, and people smiled when they read that Madame Labillette had appeared at the Presidency Ball wearing a headdress of birds of paradise.

Madame Vivier des Murenes, a woman of good family, was stout rather than tall, had a face like a beef-steak and the voice of a newspaper-seller.

Madame Debonnaire, tall, dry, and florid, was devoted to young officers.

She ruined herself by her escapades and crimes and only regained consideration by dint of ugliness and insolence.
Madame Ceres was the charm of the Ministry and its tide to consideration.