The cleverest among us has been Louis de S-------. Having formerly
inhabited Japan, and made a marriage Japanese fashion there, he is now
satisfied to remain the friend of our wives, of whom he has become
the ‘Komodachi taksan takai’ (“the very tall friend,” as they say, on
account of his excessive height and slenderness). Speaking Japanese
more readily than we, he is their confidential adviser, disturbs or
reconciles our households at will, and has infinite amusement at our
expense.
This “very tall friend” of our wives enjoys all the fun that these
little creatures can give him, without any of the worries of domestic
life. With brother Yves, and little Oyouki (the daughter of Madame
Prune, my landlady), he makes up our incongruous party.