Joly let Bossuet to his ranting, and became comfortable at his new perch, making an auditory note here or there: 'Mm!' the agreement that Reynaud was not lost, 'Hem!' at the idea of Prouvaire summoning him, 'Eh' at the word 'death', as was truly more an inborn reflex than a reaction, by this point.

Then finally: 'Ah!'

"Ah, ah, ah: you say he is much like those hats, then you say he is not like the hat? Your metaphor is all tangled up, dear Eagle. Which hat is he like, and which not? I'd say he's more like The Collegian, and less like The Regent, in terms of hats. Less tall, but also less low and less wide, best with a merry sort of tilt. I can see such a light hat floating away on its own gaiety, surely. Well-- well? Explain yourself, Bossuet, how else can a man be 'much like' the hat, and 'not like' the hat?"