"Yet it were better to do this," said Parlamente, "than to let it be
seen that the talk pleased them."

"Then," said Dagoucin, "you praise a lady's hypocrisy no less than her
virtue?"

"Virtue would be far better," said Longarine, "but, when it is lacking,
recourse must be had to hypocrisy, just as we use our slippers (7) to
disguise our littleness. And it is no small matter to be able to conceal
our imperfections."

8 _Tourets-de-nez_. _See ante_, vol. iii. p. 27, note 5.--Ed.

7 High-heeled slippers or _mules_ were then worn.--B. J.

"By my word," said Hircan, "it were better sometimes to show some slight
imperfection than to cover it so closely with the cloak of virtue."

"It is true," said Ennasuitc, "that a borrowed garment brings the
borrower as much dishonour when he is constrained to return it as it
brought him honour whilst it was being worn, and there is a lady now
living who, by being too eager to conceal a small error, fell into a
greater."

"I think," said Hircan, "that I know whom you mean; in any case,
however, do not pronounce her name."

"Ho! ho!" said Geburon [to Ennasuite], "I give you my vote on condition
that when you have related the story you will tell us the names. We will