The inconsistent little lady of the Avenue d'Iena had an insuperable need of changing her place, intellectually.

She had a lively imagination, and she was capable, at certain times, of imagining the direct reverse of her most cherished beliefs, with a vividness more intense than that of conviction.

She got tired of thinking aright; but there was no serious harm in it, as she got equally tired of thinking wrong.

In the midst of her mysterious perversities she had admirable flashes of justice.

One of these occurred when Newman related to her that he had made a formal proposal to Madame de Cintre.