"Certainly," said he. "I heard a great deal about his pictures at
the last Salon. Talent has immense privileges." he added,
observing the artist's red ribbon. "That distinction, which we
must earn at the cost of our blood and long service, you win in
your youth; but all glory is of the same kindred," he said,
laying his hand on his Cross of Saint-Louis.

Hippolyte murmured a few words of acknowledgment, and was silent
again, satisfied to admire with growing enthusiasm the beautiful
girl's head that charmed him so much. He was soon lost in
contemplation, completely forgetting the extreme misery of the
dwelling. To him Adelaide's face stood out against a luminous
atmosphere. He replied briefly to the questions addressed to him,
which, by good luck, he heard, thanks to a singular faculty of
the soul which sometimes seems to have a double consciousness.
Who has not known what it is to sit lost in sad or delicious
meditation, listening to its voice within, while attending to a
conversation or to reading? An admirable duality which often
helps us to tolerate a bore! Hope, prolific and smiling, poured
out before him a thousand visions of happiness; and he refused to
consider what was going on around him. As confiding as a child,
it seemed to him base to analyze a pleasure.

After a short lapse of time he perceived that the old lady and
her daughter were playing cards with the old gentleman. As to the
satellite, faithful to his function as a shadow, he stood behind
his friend's chair watching his game, and answering the player's
mute inquiries by little approving nods, repeating the
questioning gestures of the other countenance.