56/61 Mme du Joncquoy was saying: "I was willing to grant you that Monsieur de Bismarck was perhaps a witty man. Only, if you go as far as to talk of genius--" The ladies had come round again to their earliest topic of conversation. "This time I make my escape for good and all." "Wait a bit," said Vandeuvres, "we must have a definite no from the count." The Count Muffat was talking to his father-in-law and a certain serious-looking gentleman. Vandeuvres drew him away and renewed the invitation, backing it up with the information that he was to be at the supper himself. A man might go anywhere; no one could think of suspecting evil where at most there could only be curiosity. |