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.