He preferred those of the women--noble dames with short-cropped, curled hair bound by a knot of ribbon on the temple, like those that Velazquez loved to paint, and long faces of the century following, with cherry-colored mouth, two patches on the cheeks, and a tower of white hair.

The memory of the Grecian _basilisa_ appeared to emanate from these paintings.

All the high-born dames seemed to have something in common with her.
Among the portraits of the men there was one of a bishop that irritated him by its absurd childishness.

He appeared almost his own age, an adolescent bishop, with imperious and aggressive eyes.

These eyes used to inspire the sensitive lad with a certain terror, and he therefore decided to have done with them.