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212 212 THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY. " I am very sick of it," said Osmond. "You must let Miss Archer come and see all this. I have told her about it." " I don't object to showing my things when people are not idiots." " You do it delightfully. As a cicerone in your own museum you appear to particular advantage." Mr. Osmond, in return for this compliment, simply turned upon his companion an eye expressive of perfect clairvoyance. " Did you say she was rich 1 " he asked in a moment. " She has seventy thousand pounds." " En ecus bien comptes ? " tl There is no doubt whatever about her fortune. I have seen it, as I may say." " Satisfactory woman ! I mean you. And if I go to see her, shall I see the mother 1 " " The mother 1 She has none nor father either." " The aunt then ; whom did you say 1 Mrs. Touchett." " I can easily keep her out of the way." " I don't object to her," said Osmond ; " I rather like Mrs. Touchett. She has a sort of old-fashioned character that is passing away a vivid identity. But that long jackanapes, the son is he about the place 1 " " He is there, but he won't trouble you." " He's an awful ass." " I think you are mistaken. He is a very clever man. But he is not fond of being about when I am there, because he doesn't like me." " What could be more asinine than that ? Did you say that she was pretty ? " Osmond went on. " Yes ; but I won't say it again, lest you should be disap- pointed. Come and make a beginning; that is all I ask of you." " A beginning of what 1 " Madame Merle was silent a moment. " I want you of course to marry her." "The beginning of the end! Well, I will see for myself. Have you told her that ? " " For what do you take me ? She is a very delicate piece of machinery." "Really," said Osmond, after some meditation, "I don't understand your ambitions." " I think you will understand this one after you have seen Miss Archer. Suspend your judgment till then." Madame