the other's teeth.
Madeleine leant against the mantelpiece, and having lit a cigarette
related her news, and then explained her notions and the plan of the
article she meditated. He listened attentively, scribbling notes as he
did so, and when she had finished, raised objections, took up the
question again, enlarged its bearing, and sketched in turn, not the plan
of an article, but of a campaign against the existing Ministry. This
attack would be its commencement. His wife had left off smoking, so
strongly was her interest aroused, so vast was the vision that opened
before her as she followed out George's train of thought.

She murmured, from time to time: "Yes, yes; that is very good. That is
capital. That is very clever."

And when he had finished speaking in turn, she said: "Now let us write."

But he always found it hard to make a start, and with difficulty sought
his expressions. Then she came gently, and, leaning over his shoulder,
began to whisper sentences in his ear. From time to time she would
hesitate, and ask: "Is that what you want to say?"

He answered: "Yes, exactly."

She had piercing shafts, the poisoned shafts of a woman, to wound the
head of the Cabinet, and she blended jests about his face with others
respecting his policy in a curious fashion, that made one laugh, and, at
the same time, impressed one by their truth of observation.

Du Roy from time to time added a few lines which widened and
strengthened the range of attack. He understood, too, the art of
perfidious insinuation, which he had learned in sharpening up his
"Echoes"; and when a fact put forward as certain by Madeleine appeared
doubtful or compromising, he excelled in allowing it to be divined and
in impressing it upon the mind more strongly than if he had affirmed it.
When their article was finished, George read it aloud. They both thought
it excellent, and smiled, delighted and surprised, as if they had just
mutually revealed themselves to one another. They gazed into the depths
of one another's eyes with yearnings of love and admiration, and they
embraced one another with an ardor communicated from their minds to
their bodies.

Du Roy took up the lamp again. "And now to bye-bye," said he, with a

kindling glance.

She replied: "Go first, sir, since you light the way."

He went first, and she followed him into their bedroom, tickling his
neck to make him go quicker, for he could not stand that.

The article appeared with