Alpha Book

But we may criticise
it. There is nothing to the contrary in the contract."
"In the social contract? Are you going to talk to me about
Jean-Jacques?"
"Have you read him, Madame?"
"'No woman who respects herself--'" began Maria Consuelo, quoting the
famous preface.
"I see that you have," said Orsino, with a laugh. "I have not."
"Nor I."
To Orsino's surprise, Madame d'Aranjuez blushed. He could not have told
why he was pleased, nor why her change of colour seemed so unexpected.
"Speaking of history," he said, after a very slight pause, "why did you
thank me yesterday for having got you a card?"
"Did you not speak to Gouache about it?"
"I said something--I forget what. Did he manage it?"
"Of course. I had his wife's place. She could not go. Do you dislike
being thanked for your good offices? Are you so modest as that?"
"Not in the least, but I hate misunderstandings, though I will get all
the credit I can for what I have not done, like other people. When I saw
that you knew the Del Ferice, I thought that perhaps she had been
exerting herself.


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