"Au contraire, Riddermarchais or Mordière would reply, it is precisely because I am not a physician that my hands were the hands of a healer, rather than dealing death on the uninsured. For my part, I will content myself to say that I have studied chemingole and the natural sciences in depth, though only as an amateur."
A clock in the shape of Luthienne sounded six times. "It is six o'clock," said Mme. de Villefaramir. "Were you not going to see, Valartine, if your grandfather is ready for dinner?"
Valartine rose, curtseyed to the Count, and left without uttering a word.
"Oh, mon Érou, would it be on my account that you dismiss Mlle. de Villefaramir?" said the Count.
"Not the least in the world," replied Mme. de Villefaramir vivaciously. "This is the hour in which we feed M. de Dénéthoirtier the sad repast that sustains his sad existence. For he denied the legitimacy of the Crown, upholding instead the cause of the usurper, and for this reason the eagles of Manvre cursed him, so that he became a potato, that can no longer move or speak, and communicates solely through the means of smoke rings. But pardon, monsieur, for vexing you with our domestic misfortunes; I believe you were alluding to your expertise in chemistry."
"I would not put it quite so, madame," said Monte Fato. "Au contraire, I studied chemingole in order that, living particularly in the regions of Harade, I might follow the example of Trolquien."
