"I'm sure I won't eat your wife if I DO talk about her.

Dear boy, why, every woman's worth--" But she stopped for fear of saying too much.

She contented herself by assuming a superior expression, since she considered herself extremely kind.

The poor fellow, he needed delicate handling! Besides, she had been struck by a laughable notion, and she smiled as she looked him carefully over.
"I say," she continued, "I haven't told you the story about you that Fauchery's circulating.

There's a viper, if you like! I don't bear him any ill will, because his article may be all right, but he's a regular viper all the same." And laughing more gaily than ever, she let go her foot and, crawling along the floor, came and propped herself against the count's knees.
"Now just fancy, he swears you were still like a babe when you married your wife.