It was evident that he could be silent in this way for a very long time.

" 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.