“Just as well as you find yourself acquainted with his granddaughter, if dear Thomas's letters are to be believed,” she says, quick off the draw and that is still landing as she pivots to the poker-faced statue at his side—

“And what a pretty piece of mischief that you should know it and he should not, Vanya Orlov,” just in case he thought he was getting away with that.

(She is delighted.)