When the Baron made yet another error of pronunciation, the Duchesse’s annoyance and indignation both became too much to bear, and she said to the Baron: ‘Palamède!’ in the exasperated interrogative tone of those nervous people who cannot bear to wait a few minutes, and who, if one invites them to come in straight away, apologizing for not being quite ready, will ask in a tart tone of voice, more accusatory than apologetic: ‘I’m not disturbing you, am I?’ as if the person being disturbed was to blame.
