He explained to his wife that Fieschi's attempt had resulted in attaching to the interests threatened by this attack on Louis-Philippe a large body of hitherto lukewarm persons.

The newspapers which were non-committal, and did not show their colors, would lose subscribers; for journalism, like politics, was about to be simplified by falling into regular lines.

If Nathan had put his whole fortune into that newspaper he would lose it.

This judgment, so apparently just and clear-cut, though brief and given by a man who fathomed a matter in which he had no interest, alarmed Madame de Vandenesse.
"Do you take an interest in him ?" asked her husband.
"Only as a man whose mind interests me and whose conversation I like." This reply was made so naturally that the count suspected nothing.
The next day at four o'clock, Marie and Raoul had a long conversation together, in a low voice, in Madame d'Espard's salon.

The countess expressed fears which Raoul dissipated, only too happy to destroy by epigrams the conjugal judgment.