Tristram's way of saying things was different; he had been taken by his wife to call upon Madame de Cintre, and he gave an account of the expedition.
"You don't catch me giving an opinion on your countess this time," he said; "I put my foot in it once.

That's a d--d underhand thing to do, by the way--coming round to sound a fellow upon the woman you are going to marry.

You deserve anything you get.

Then of course you rush and tell her, and she takes care to make it pleasant for the poor spiteful wretch the first time he calls.

I will do you the justice to say, however, that you don't seem to have told Madame de Cintre; or if you have she's uncommonly magnanimous.