Simon turned his head slightly at John's words, frowning at the onlookers. While it wasn't hugely unreasonable for them to find themselves captivated by the sight of the truly perfect facial anatomy of Mr Abott? The fact that Simon found himself sharing the firing line of their gaze was a little less than satisfactory.
Besides, what kind of idiots tittered in admiration? Perhaps the response to John's beauty was not as positive as it clearly should have been.
"Jealousy, my friend? Is an ugly thing." A little regretfully, Simon began to slide out from under his friend's arm. He cast an idle gaze through the dining hall, observing couples beginning to break off into pairs or trails of men and women pining and arguing with one another. Even recognizing young Israel conversing with a rather severe looking man across the hall. He smiled, turning back to John, "My friend, I believe the true spirit of the masquerade is upon this gathering tonight! The room teems with it, and they:" He extended a hand to point rather blatantly at their observers, "Are squandering it, oblivious! Do not be troubled by the whims of those who can not claim themselves your better, and if they have an issue to address with you?" At this point, Simon turned to address the gathered crowd, "Then let them bring it to you, rather than whisper it like unlearned urchins in the streets."