The sting and surprise of it were more than I could bear.

In my shame I would even have tried to drown his voice with babblings but after this one cry I could not speak for a while.

He went on triumphantly: "This rascal, my dear ladies, who has persuaded you to ask him to dinner, this camel who claims to be my excellent brother, he, for a few francs, in Paris, shaved his head and showed it for a week to the people with an advertisement painted upon it of the worst ballet in Paris.

This is the gentleman with whom you ask Caravacioli to dine!" It was beyond my expectation, so astonishing and so cruel that I could only look at him for a moment or two.

I felt as one who dreams himself falling forever.