M. Simon, in a rage, screamed
the more; and the countryman, yet more confirmed in his opinion,
conceiving himself to be insulted, began railing in his turn, saying
that, "Apparently, she was nothing better than a common street-walker,
and that the judge major should be ashamed of setting such ill
examples." The enraged magistrate, having no other weapon than the
jorden under his bed, was just going to throw it at the poor
fellow's head as his servant returned.
This dwarf, ill-used by nature as to his person, was recompensed
by possessing an understanding naturally agreeable, and which he had
been careful to cultivate. Though he was esteemed a good lawyer, he
did not like his profession, delighting more in the finer parts of
literature, which he studied with success: above all, he possessed
that superficial brilliancy, the art of pleasing in conversation, even
with the ladies. He knew by heart a number of little stories, which he
perfectly well knew how to make the most of; relating with an air of
secrecy, and as an anecdote of yesterday, what happened sixty years
before. He understood music, and could sing agreeably; in short, for a
magistrate, he had many pleasing talents. By flattering the ladies
of Annecy, he became fashionable among them, appearing continually
in their train. He even pretended to favors, at which they were much
amused. A Madam D'Epigny used to say "The greatest favor he could
aspire to, was to kiss a lady on her knees."
As he was well read, and spoke fluently, his conversation was both
amusing and instructive.
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