"To the advantage of Gouache's fiction, you would say. You were more complimentary a little while ago."
"You imagine more rudeness than even I am capable of inventing."
"That is saying much. Why did you change the subject just now?"
"Because I saw that you were annoyed at something. Besides, we were talking about myself, if I remember rightly."
"Have you never heard that a man should always talk to a woman about himself or herself?"
"No. I never heard that. Shall we talk of you, then, Madame?"
"Do you care to talk of me?" asked Maria Consuelo.
Another direct attack, Orsino thought.
"I would rather hear you talk of yourself," he answered without the least hesitation.
"If I were to tell you my thoughts about myself at the present moment, they would surprise you very much."