"I do not understand," stammered De Brie.
"It is, however, limpid," said Réginard with a naïveté that had nothing of affectation. "Announce to her one bright day something unheard of, such as that trees have been found walking into a cigar store and ordering a yavanna, or that Teleporno has said something intelligent, or that Poste Royale has ceased to deliver spam. She will bet on the Bourse des Trolles that trees have been buying yavannas; the next day, Boyen-Xènes-Baguines will report that, although the ill-informed have claimed that trees bought yavannas, no such thing has happened, nor could it, since anyone remotely familiar with their tobacco knows that tree-bark and yavannas never go together, for the few trees who smoke smoke hashberry."
"And inferior hashberry at that," murmured the Count.
Lothien laughed; but Monte Fato's piercing Eye had read a secret embarrassment in the secretary's face. As a result of this embarrassment, which had completely escaped the notice of Réginard, Lothien cut short his visit.
"Do you not think you are wrong to speak thus of your mother-in-law before the interior secretary?" said the Count.
