"Savages are the only beings I am not afraid of!"
"Alas! monsieur, I have nothing in that line to offer you. This evening I can show you some neighbors who resemble the tribes of the Tortoise of the Great Serpent—these are the only natives I can dispose of. At present you will only see my husband, two ladies who are almost widows, and a young lady" ... here Mad. de Lorgeville was seized with a new fit of laughter ... finally she continued: "A young lady whose name you will know later."
"I know it already, madame."
"Perhaps you do ... to-morrow our company will be increased by two persons, my brother." ...
"The handsome Léon!"
"Ah you know him!... My brother Léon and his wife." ...
I started so violently that I dropped Mad. de Lorgeville's arm—she looked frightened, and I said in a painfully constrained voice:
"And his wife.... Mad. de Varèzes?... Ah! I did not know that M. de Varèzes was married."
"My brother was married a month ago," said Mad. Lorgeville. "He married Mlle. de Bligny."
"Are you certain of that, madame?"