It was a study in which he tried to reach the truth through a series of plausible conditions.
"Thus," he said, "the novel acquires a moral force which history, in its heavy frivolity, never had." She inquired whether the book was written for women.

He said it was not.
"You are wrong, Monsieur Vence, not to write for women.

A superior man can do nothing else for them." He wished to know what gave her that idea.
"Because I see that all the intelligent women love fools." "Who bore them." "Certainly! But superior men would weary them more.

They would have more resources to employ in boring them.

But tell me the subject of your novel." "Do you insist ?" "Oh, I insist upon nothing." "Well, I will tell you.