Research source

I pass on to the next criticism, which a little "editing" on my part could have averted

Date of account: Published 1907
Source: Seen and Unseen
Reference: Seen and Unseen · selected passage 62
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

A lively little American lady (married to an Italian count) plied him with numerous questions in fluent French, spoken with an atrocious accent

Published source text

Read the available text below. Archive transcriptions may contain OCR errors; later context is labelled separately. A recorded claim is not a finding that it happened.

Source passage

Source text · mention only

A lively little American lady (married to an Italian count) plied him with numerous questions in fluent French, spoken with an atrocious accent. Finally, she wished to hear the Abbé's views upon _Melchisedech!_ In the midst of other questions and answers, the kindly little man managed to turn round to her with a cheery "_Ah, Madame la Comtesse! pour le Melchisedech--nous reviendrons tout de suite à Melchisedech!_" All the affairs of the religious universe were being wound up at a similar pace and in like fashion, and this final word of cheerful assurance would have proved absolutely disastrous to me had I not been sitting close to my friend and able to whisper to her: "_Please dig your nails into my wrist--hard._" Any bodily pain was preferable to the hysterical laughter which had been so long suppressed and seemed now imminent.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

This is a historical account assembled under the reporting and publishing conventions of its period. It may preserve testimony, hearsay, retelling and editorial interpretation together.

Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

A modern comparison can identify recurring descriptions and possible explanations, but the account is not treated as independently verified evidence merely because it appeared in print.

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