underemployment

‘Do you believe all women are insane? You must know some who are not so?’

Maragnoni considered the question, then shook his head. ‘Taking all things as
equal, no. All women are insane at one level or another. It is merely a question of when—or if—the insanity will manifest itself.’

‘So if I come across a woman who is entirely normal and balanced…’

‘Then she merely has not yet manifested the signs of madness. The longer she remains in a state of apparent normality, the more violent is the underlying insanity. I have wards full of them. Clearly, some women hide the symptoms all their lives, and the insanity never rises to the surface. But it is always latent.’

‘So being sane is a proof of insanity? In women, I mean?’

‘I fear so, alas. But I am not dogmatic on the subject, unlike some of my colleagues.’