That is absolutely as though you had asked me what
the Nobody familywas, replied M.
And, well, they say theres no goodconfession unless
its mutual. I wentoccasionally to see her and she sent me little presents from time
totime. You tell me that you have not been taking your food, not going out?
Yesterday I visited a home for neurasthenics. Unfortunately, that is the mould in
which most of the menone meets have been cast.
You belong to thatsplendid and pitiable family
which is the salt of the earth. In vain might she answer us in the words of Mme.
Youre sure its not what they call adiplomatic illness? AndI do not speak only of
events that have already occurred, but of thechain of circumstances.
The two butlers whom I heard arguing asI came in
furnished an exception to the rule.
It distressed me this afternoon to see youat that
idiotic tea-party. He tried to soothe his patients restlessness bya milk
diet.
Françoise annoyed me by her refusal to sharein our
joy. The most learned specialists on the stomach treatedhim, with no effect. Do not
be foolish, do not refuse from discretion.
No, no; you mustnt think Im making funof your
sufferings. Ours let it beunderstood that Dreyfus was guilty, the Guermantes butler
that he wasinnocent.
He asked if my friend was young, good looking and
so forth. It did no harm to anyone, at the most a little tohimself, and very little!
That is yourtrouble itself, the super-activity of your nerves.