The first round of the election had been a free-for-all, with a roster of candidates that included the leader of the Fishing, Hunting, Nature, and Traditions Party; a Communist postman of undisputed charm; and an anti-globalizing farmer whose mustache alone appeared to be the product of an agricultural subsidy.

Postcard from Paris: Ségo-Sarko: The Talk of the Town: The New Yorker

Smug condescension is deeply unattractive, Mr. Lane.