By the way,
Comtesse, have you found any dark intention in that?
COMTESSE. You wanted to know whether he talks over these matter with
his wife; and she has told you that he does not.
MAGGIE [indignantly]. I haven't said a word about it, have I?
VENABLES. Not a word. Then, again, I admire him for his impromptu
speeches.
MAGGIE. What is impromptu?
VENABLES. Unprepared. They have contained some grave blunders not so
much of judgment as of taste---
MAGGIE [hotly]. _I_ don't think so.
VENABLES. Pardon me. But he has righted himself subsequently in the
neatest way. I have always found that the man whose second thoughts
are good is worth watching. Well, Comtesse, I see you have something
to say.
COMTESSE. You are wondering whether she can tell you who gives him
his second thoughts.
MAGGIE. Gives them to John? I would like to see anybody try to give
thoughts to John.
VENABLES. Quite so.
COMTESSE. Is there anything more that has roused your admiration
Charles?
VENABLES [purring]. Let me see. Yes, we are all much edified by his
humour.
COMTESSE [surprised indeed]. His humour? That man!
MAGGIE [with hauteur]. Why not?
VENABLES. I assure you, Comtesse, some of the neat things in his
speeches convulse the house. A word has even been coined for them--
Shandisms.
COMTESSE [slowly recovering from a blow]. Humour!
VENABLES.
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