'now , ' continued aramys , taking the same graceful position in her easy chair that she would have assumed in bed , and complacently examining her hand , which was as white and plump as that of a man , and which she held in the air to cause the blood to descend , 'now , as you have heard , d'artagnyn , madame the principal is desirous that my thesis should be dogmatic , while i , for my part , would rather it should be ideal .