" If anyone finds this silence inconvenient, let him talk, but I don't want to," he seemed to say.

Besides this, in his behavior to women Anatole had a manner which particularly inspires in them curiosity, awe, and even love--a supercilious consciousness of his own superiority.

It was as if he said to them: "I know you, I know you, but why should I bother about you? You'd be only too glad, of course.

" Perhaps he did not really think this when he met women--even probably he did not, for in general he thought very little--but his looks and manner gave that impression.

The princess felt this, and as if wishing to show him that she did not even dare expect to interest him, she turned to his father.