When people asked her for news of her husband she was always afraid of their doing so in an ill-bred spirit of irony.
“May I walk a little way with you, madame? I want to discuss some serious matters with you. First——”
“Well?”
“That coat gives you a barbaric appearance, you look like a charming little savage.”
“Are these the serious matters?”
“I’m coming to them. It is absolutely necessary for Monsieur de Gromance to present himself as a candidate for the Senate. The interests of his country demand it. Monsieur de Gromance is a Nationalist, is he not?”
She looked at him with a touch of indignation.
“He certainly isn’t an Intellectual.”
“And is he a Republican?”
“Heavens, yes! I’ll explain. He’s a Royalist. So you understand——”