His conversation, however, soon makes you forget his ugliness and infirmities.

There is a poignancy without effort in all that he says, which reminded me a little of the character which the wits of Johnson's circle give of Beauclerk.

For example, we talked about Metternich and Cardinal Mazarin.

"J'y trouve beaucoup a redire.

Le Cardinal trompait; mais il ne mentait pas.