
    »Remember? I have been counting the hours.«
    »Very well; here's your chance. Do what you can to make your sister think
well of me.«
    Bellegarde stared, with a smile. »Why, I'm sure she thinks as well of you as
possible, already.«
    »An opinion founded on seeing me three or four times? That is putting me off
with very little. I want something more. I have been thinking of it a good deal,
and at last I have decided to tell you. I should like very much to marry Madame
de Cintré.«
    Bellegarde had been looking at him with quickened expectancy, and with the
smile with which he had greeted Newman's allusion to his promised request. At
this last announcement he continued to gaze; but his smile went through two or
three curious phases. It felt, apparently, a momentary impulse to broaden; but
this it immediately checked. Then it remained for some instants taking counsel
with itself, at the end of which it decreed a retreat. It slowly effaced itself
and left a look of seriousness modified by the desire not to be rude. Extreme
surprise had come into the Count Valentin's face; but he had reflected that it
would be uncivil to leave it there. And yet, what the deuce was he to do with
it? He got up, in his agitation, and stood before the chimney-piece, still
looking at Newman. He was a longer time thinking what to say than one would have
expected.
    »If you can't render me the service I ask,« said Newman, »say it out!«
    »Let me hear it again, distinctly,« said Bellegarde. »It's very important,
you know. I shall plead your cause with my sister, because you want - you want
to marry her? That's it, eh?«
    »Oh, I don't say plead my cause, exactly; I shall try and do that myself.
But say a good word for me, now and then - let her know that you think well of
me.«
    At this, Bellegarde gave a little light laugh.
    »What I want chiefly, after all,« Newman went on, »is just to let you know
what I have in mind. I suppose that is what you expect, isn't it? I want to do
what is customary over here. If there is anything particular to be done, let me
know and I will do it. I wouldn't for
