Withthathegavehimselfaresoundingblowonthecavityofhischestandtookupapositionbeforethefireplace，aftercastingaglanceatModeste，whichslippedlikearayoflightbetweenhisheavyhalf—closedeyelids。Heperceived，inthisunexpectedincident，achanceofinterrogatingtheheartofhissovereign。DumaythoughtforamomentthattheclerkdaredtoaspiretoModeste，andheexchangedarapidglancewiththeothers，whounderstoodhim，andbegantoeyethelittlemanwithaspeciesofterrormingledwithcuriosity。
\"I，too，havemydreams，\"saidButscha，nottakinghiseyesfromModeste。
Theyounggirlloweredhereyelidswithamovementthatwasarevelationtotheyoungman。
\"Youloveromance，\"hesaid，addressingher。\"Letme，inthismomentofhappiness，tellyoumine;andyoushalltellmeinreturnwhethertheconclusionofthetaleIhaveinventedformylifeispossible。Tomewealthwouldbringgreaterhappinessthantoothermen;forthehighesthappinessIcanimaginewouldbetoenrichtheoneIloved。
You，mademoiselle，whoknowsomanythings，tellmeifitispossibleforamantomakehimselfbelovedindependentlyofhisperson，beithandsomeorugly，andforhisspiritonly？\"