"Oh no! It's a trick Parisian harlots have!" she flung at him.
Contrary to her expectation, this made him laugh.
She stiffened in her chair. "Don't you care, then?"
"Not a bit! It's a charming fashion."
"You will hear it very badly spoke of tonight, I warn you!"
"Oh no, I shan't!" said the Colonel cheerfully. "Whatever criticisms may be made of you will certainly not be made to me."
"Do you mean to fight my battles? You will be kept busy!" She opened her reticule, and drew a letter from it and handed it to him. "Your sister-in-law sent me these felicitations. She doesn't like me, does she?"
"No, I don't think she does," responded the Colonel, glancing through Judith's civil letter.
An impish look came into her eye. "I wonder whether she meant you to fall in love with that insipid protegee of hers?" she said. "I can't recall her name. But an heiress, I believe. Oh, famous! I am sure that was it!"
"But who?" he demanded. "You do not mean Miss Devenish?"