Measured Insults

"Ma'dam. Ma'dam," I heard Orson's deep, hollow voice.

I groaned, half-asleep. I was lying on my tummy with my face was buried in the pillow. I rolled onto my back, rubbed my eyes, and then screamed when I saw Orson's ghostlike face bent down close to mine.

"What on earth is the matter, ma'dam?" he asked, his pale features unbothered.

"I don't know, maybe because your corpse-looking face is way too