She remarked on this afterwards to Lady Maria, who said that
principles were the last thing to interest Morosine. He had none! at all,
said Lady Maria, unless his own immediate gratification was a principle;
and perhaps with men you might almost say that it was.
Chevenix remained, chuckling and interjecting here and there an
exclamation, just (as he told her later) to "start the chap on his
meander," and presently betook himself elsewhere. It was then to be
observed that Morosine allowed himself to drift into the discussion of
matters not usually subjects of ordinary conversation; but he did so
without consciousness, and therefore without offence. Sanchia neither
disapproved nor felt uncomfortable. They were, moreover, interesting, and
rather material.
It began with Poland, a country which, the less it existed politically, he
said, was the better to live in, and be of. We live by our emotions, the
beasts by their appetites--a material distinction. Now, the condition of
the Poles was perfectly adapted to the quickening of the emotional parts.
Shorten time, you make love a precious ecstasy; restrict liberty, freedom
is a lust--none the worse for being lawful. No Pole knows how long he may
have to live: Russia or phthisis will have him late or soon.
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