It rather surprised her that Ferrol seemed almost unaware of his title.
He was quite without self-consciousness, although there was that little touch of irresponsibility in him which betrayed a readiness to sell his dignity for a small compensation.

With a certain genial capacity for universal blarney, he was at first as impressive with Sophie as he was attentive to Christine.

It was quite natural that presently Madame Lavilette should see possibilities beyond all her past imaginations.
It would surely advance her ambitions to have him here for Sophie's wedding; but even as she thought that, she had twinges of disappointment, because she had promised Farcinelle to have the wedding as simple and bourgeois as possible.
Farcinelle did not share the social ambitions of the Lavilettes.

He liked his political popularity, and he was only concerned for that.
He had that touch of shrewdness to save him from fatuity where the Lavilettes were concerned.

He was determined to associate with the ceremony all the primitive customs of the country.