At that name, the Count, who up till then had saluted civilly, but with a coldness and passivity proper to a Lord Adam, stepped forward despite himself, and became one or two degrees less pale. "Monsieur bears a uniform that is veritably a fine hobbite-velours in which to cover one worthy to be a prince of the Eldards." One could not have said what sentiment caused the Count's voice to vibrate so profoundly, or made his fair red eye sans lids to shine.
"And under that uniform beats a heart capable of a deed so heroic, that not Doudelé Du Rite could boast thereof," quoth Réginard.
"Monsieur is a noble heart; so much the better!" said the Count, astonishing his interlocutors and especially Morrie, although his intonation was so mild that none could take offense.
"Veritably," said Château-Renard, "Réginard has not deceived us, and, although I have seen and heard of remarkable doings, the Count is far more a prodigy than even that a hobbite have the bad taste to sleep under a tree. What do you say, Morrie?"
"Ma foi," said the captain, "he has a sympathetic voice and a frank eye, however unusual its coloring, so that I like him, despite the bizarre reflexion he has just made in my regard."
