“You were speaking just now of the Seven Princesses , Duchess; you know (not that it’s anything to be proud of) that the author of that⁠—what shall I call it?⁠—that production is a compatriot of mine,” said M. d’Argencourt with a fine scorn blended with satisfaction at knowing more than anyone else in the room about the author of a work which had been under discussion. “Yes, he’s a Belgian, by nationality,” he went on.