Bellac. Irresistible supplications! And yet I must protect myself; until everyone shall have the opportunity of seeing my book, no one shall.
Mme. de Loudan. (With meaning) Mm—no one?
Bellac. Ah, Marquise, “Take care! There may be a secret!” as Fontenelle said to Mme. de Coulanges.
Ladies. Charming! Charming!
Baroness. (Aside to Mme. de Loudan) How clever!
Mme. de Loudan. He is more than clever.
Baroness. What then?
Mme. de Loudan. His wit has wings; you’ll see.
Bellac. This is neither the time nor the place, you will admit, ladies, to plumb the depths of certain of those eternal problems and mysterious enigmas of life and the Beyond which harass and torment noble souls, like your own!
Ladies. Ah, the “Beyond,” my dear, the “Beyond!”