“Mydearlady。”saidtheCount，“thoseareadmirablesentiments，andIhaveseenthemstatedatthetopsofcopy-books。”Heliftedoneofthewhitemiceinthepalmofhishand，andspoketoitinhiswhimsicalway。
“Myprettylittlesmoothwhiterascal。”hesaid，“hereisamorallessonforyou。Atrulywisemouseisatrulygoodmouse。Mentionthat，ifyouplease，toyourcompanions，andnevergnawatthebarsofyourcageagainaslongasyoulive。”
“Itiseasytoturneverythingintoridicule。”saidLauraresolutely；
“butyouwillnotfinditquitesoeasy，CountFosco，togivemeaninstanceofawisemanwhohasbeenagreatcriminal。”
TheCountshruggedhishugeshoulders，andsmiledonLaurainthefriendliestmanner。