Page 552 - swanns-way

he approved of anonymous letters, and as everything that
they had ever said to him implied that they strongly disap-
proved, he saw no further reason for associating this infamy
with the character of any one of them more than with the
rest. M. de Charlus was somewhat inclined to eccentricity,
but he was fundamentally good and kind; M. des Laumes
was a trifle dry, but wholesome and straight. As for M.
d’Orsan, Swann had never met anyone who, even in the
most depressing circumstances, would come to him with a
more heartfelt utterance, would act more properly or with
more discretion. So much so that he was unable to under-
stand the rather indelicate part commonly attributed to M.
d’Orsan in his relations with a certain wealthy woman, and
that whenever he thought of him he was obliged to set that
evil reputation on one side, as irreconcilable with so many
unmistakable proofs of his genuine sincerity and refine-
ment. For a moment Swann felt that his mind was becoming
clouded, and he thought of something else so as to recover a
little light; until he had the courage to return to those other
reflections. But then, after not having been able to suspect
anyone, he was forced to suspect everyone that he knew. Af-
ter all, M. de Charlus might be most fond of him, might be
most good-natured; but he was a neuropath; to-morrow,
perhaps, he would burst into tears on hearing that Swann
was ill; and to-day, from jealousy, or in anger, or carried
away by some sudden idea, he might have wished to do him
a deliberate injury. Really, that kind of man was the worst of
all. The Prince des Laumes was, certainly, far less devoted to
Swann than was M. de Charlus. But for that very reason he

552 Swann’s Way