evelyn_b

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In an ecstasy of joy, no doubt intensified by the joy he felt in making me shine before his friends, with extreme volubility, he reiterated, stroking and patting me as though I were a horse that had just come first past the post: “You're the cleverest man I know, do you hear?” He corrected himself, and added: “Together with Elstir. – You don't mind my bracketing him with you, I hope? Scrupulous accuracy, don't you know. As one might have said to Balzac, for example: 'You're the greatest novelist of the century-- together with Stendhal.' Scrupulous to a fault, you see, but nevertheless, immense admiration. No? You don't agree about Stendhal?” he went on, with a naive confidence in my judgment which found expression in a charming, smiling, almost childish glance of interrogation from his green eyes. “Oh, good! I see you're on my side. Bloch can't stand Stendhal. I think it's idiotic of him. The Chartreuse is after all such a stunning work, don't you think? I'm so glad you agree with me. What is it you like best in the Chartreuse? Answer me,” he urged with boyish impetuosity. And the menace of his physical strength made the question almost terrifying. “Mosca? Fabrice?” I answered timidly that Mosca reminded me a little of M. de Norpois. Whereupon there were peals of laughter from the young Siegfried Saint-Loup. And no sooner had I added: “But Mosca is far more intelligent, not so pedantic,” than I heard Robert exclaim, “Bravo” actually clapping his hands, and, helpless with laughter, gasp: “Oh, perfect! Admirable! You really are astonishing!”

This week in The Guermantes Way: Saint-Loup takes M. to a party and is delighted to show him off (as ACCURATELY as possible) to all his friends. M. tries to get Saint-Loup to introduce him to his aunt, the elusive Mme de Guermantes, asking him in an offhand way and disguising the request as a joke to make it look like he isn't cultivating Saint-Loup's friendship in an attempt to get closer to Mme de G. (even though he totally is).

Also, HI BALZAC <3. I'm going to read one of your books soon, I promise!