694
LOUIS AUCHINCLOSS
The characters behave with a heartlessness about illness and
death that recalls Saint-Simon's passages on the deaths of
Louis
XIV's heirs. The Duc de Guermantes refuses to
be
told of the
death of a cousin because he would have to give up a ball;
his
wife at the same time affects not to credit Swann's news of
his
own impending demise, and Madame Verdurin, confronted in–
escapably with the death of her friend, Princess Sherbatoff, pre–
tends always to have disliked her rather than put on a mourning
air that might dampen her party. The Verdurins, indeed, have
no mercy even on physical disabilities, as is shown by their treat–
ment of Saniette:
'What's that he says?' shouted Monsieur Verdurin with an
air of disgust and fury combined, knitting his brows as though it
was all he could do to grasp something unintelligible. 'It is
impos–
sible to understand what you say, what have you got in your
mouth?' he inquired, growing more and more furious, and alluding
to Saniette's defective speech. 'Poor Saniette, I won't have him
made unhappy,' said Madame Verdurin
in
a tone of false pity, so
as to leave no one in doubt as to her husband's insolent attention.
It may be argued that Madame Verdurin
is
not in society
at the time, but later she becomes Princesse de Guermantes. One
doubts if she had to improve her manners to suit her new posi–
tion. For hear Monsieur de Charlus, speaking at the Prince de
Guermantes' of Madame de Saint-Euverte, whom he knows to
be listening:
What would prevent me from questioning her about those pas–
sionate times is the acuteness of my olfactory organ. I say to myself
all at once: "Oh, good Lord, someone has broken the lid of my cess–
pool," which is simply the marquise opening her mouth to emit
IiOme invitation. They tell me the indefatigable old street walker
gives 'garden parties.' I should describe them as invitations to ex·
plore the sewers. Are you going to wallow there?
