The morning on which the Chambers reassembled the young wife, still in
bed, was giving a thousand recommendations to her husband, who was
dressing himself in order to lunch with M. Laroche-Mathieu, and receive
his instructions prior to the sitting for the next day's political
leader in the _Vie Francaise_, this leader being meant to be a kind of
semi-official declaration of the real objects of the Cabinet.
Madeleine was saying: "Above all, do not forget to ask him whether
General Belloncle is to be sent to Oran, as has been reported. That
would mean a great deal."
George replied irritably: "But I know just as well as you what I have to
do. Spare me your preaching."
She answered quietly: "My dear, you always forget half the commissions I
entrust you with for the minister."
He growled: "He worries me to death, that minister of yours. He is a
nincompoop."
She remarked quietly: "He is no more my minister than he is yours. He is
more useful to you than to me."
He turned half round towards her, saying, sneeringly: "I beg your
pardon, but he does not pay court to me."