"The world is made for us, and we must accept it. But we may criticise it. There is nothing to the contrary in the contract."
"In the social contract? Are you going to talk to me about Jean-Jacques?"
"Have you read him, Madame?"
"'No woman who respects herself—'" began Maria Consuelo, quoting the famous preface.
"I see that you have," said Orsino, with a laugh. "I have not."
"Nor I."
To Orsino's surprise, Madame d'Aranjuez blushed. He could not have told why he was pleased, nor why her change of colour seemed so unexpected.
"Speaking of history," he said, after a very slight pause, "why did you thank me yesterday for having got you a card?"
"Did you not speak to Gouache about it?"
"I said something—I forget what. Did he manage it?"