"There are a hundred and forty more names in the other list," she said, biting the feathers of the pen, and looking across at her fellow copyist.
"My fingers are quite stiff," protested Armand. "What yours must be I cannot think."
"I am afraid, mon ami, that yours are not used to the pen," remarked the Vicomtesse. "Indeed, I do not know what they are used to."
"Well, perhaps they will handle the sword one day," returned the Comte unperturbed. "I know well that you do not think them capable of it, but you will see Madame!"
"You would never do for a soldier," said she. "You are too lazy and too insubordinate.—De grâce, do not leave the table until you have put your list into some sort of order! Then give it to me."
"Insubordinate, forsooth!" muttered Armand, obeying her. "And lazy, ma foi! Do not ask me to copy any more lists for you!"
"I shall not have the opportunity of doing so," said the Vicomtesse, taking the papers that he handed over. "I am thinking of returning to Paris next week.
"Great Heavens, why? Next week—it is only the beginning of September!"
"I know," murmured Madame de Vigerie, busy with the papers. "But I have to go.... One, two, three, five—where is page four?"
"Confound page four! Laurence, cease being a conspirator and be a human woman.... You cannot go suddenly like that!"