blow from afar a farewell kiss to husband, Sophy, mamma, grandmamma—and virtue!"
She laughed merrily.
"The future of the nations is not what I am looking forward to. No, I am resolved to get for myself the greatest possible amount of happiness, under the circumstances in which I am placed. … You will say I am a mere product of environment; well, let it be so. But mind: the way I live harms no one. If I am contented, so is my husband, and so are my admirers as well."
"And their wives too?" I hazarded.
"Well, but is it my fault if they are fools? Now, I'll tell you what. Never have I taken a man from a woman he loved. I am not of those whose sole aim is to make difficult conquests."
She added, after a pause:
"For ever so long (and that you must surely know) Imszanski has been quite indifferent to his wife."
Just then the bell rang in the antechamber. Madame Wildenhoff gave a start, then burst into a fit of laughter. In that laugh of hers, I find something peculiarly interesting; but I cannot guess what.
