As soon as he stopped working, he fell into the clutches of a deadly boredom; this was the withering effect of the politeness, admirable in itself, but so measured, so perfectly graduated according to one's position, which is a mark of high society.
Dès qu’il cessait de travailler, il était en proie à un ennui mortel ; c’est l’effet desséchant de la politesse admirable, mais si mesurée, si parfaitement graduée suivant les positions, qui distingue la haute société.