The impertinence of these kind of scrutinies, moreover, was generally concluded with a compliment, which though meant as its douceur, was considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all; for after undergoing an examination into the value and make of her gown, the colour of her shoes, and the arrangement of her hair, she was almost sure of being told that upon "her word she looked vastly smart, and she dared to say she would make a great many conquests."
Más aún, la impertinencia de este tipo de escrutinios se veía coronada por lo general con un cumplido que, aunque pretendía ir de añadidura al resto de los halagos, era recibido por Marianne como la mayor impertinencia de todas; pues, tras ser sometida a un examen que cubría el valor y hechura de su vestido, el color de sus zapatos y su peinado, estaba casi segura de escuchar que “a fe suya se veía de lo más elegante, y apostaría que iba a hacer muchísimas conquistas”.