"I hope she＇ll refuse him. It will take him down a little."
"We mustn＇t forget that he is one of the cleverest of men."
"I＇ve heard you say that before, but I haven＇t yet discovered what he has done."
"What he has done? He has done nothing that has had to be undone. And he has known how to wait."
"To wait for Miss Archer＇s money? How much of it is there?"
"That＇s not what I mean," said Madame Merle. "Miss Archer has seventy thousand pounds."
"Well, it＇s a pity she＇s so charming," the Countess declared. "To be sacrificed, any girl would do. She needn＇t be superior."