"Turned me into a—a——"
"A rabbit?" said Belvane innocently.
A foolish observation like this always pained Udo.
"What makes you think I'm a rabbit?" he asked.
"I don't mind what you are, but you'll never dare show yourself in the country like this."
"Be careful, woman; don't drive me too far. Beware lest you rouse the lion in me."
"Where?" asked Belvane, with a child-like air.
With a gesture full of dignity and good breeding Udo called attention to his tail.
"That," said the Countess, "is not the part of the lion that I'm afraid of."
For the moment Udo was nonplussed, but he soon recovered himself.