“Well, it does not matter. You know her?”
“Certainly. Everybody knows her.”
Daniel did not notice the extreme self-conceit with which these words were uttered.
“All right, then. Now, Maxime, I conjure you, by our friendship, tell me frankly what you think of her. What kind of a woman is this Miss Brandon?”
His features, as well as his voice, betrayed such extreme excitement, that Brevan was almost stunned. At last he said,—
“But, my dear fellow, you ask me that in a manner”—
“I must know the truth, I tell you. It is of the utmost importance to me.”
Brevan, struck by a sudden thought, touched his forehead, and exclaimed,—
“Oh, I see! You are in love with Sarah!”
Daniel would never have thought of such a subterfuge in order to avoid mentioning the name of Count Ville-Handry; but, seeing it thus offered to him, he determined to profit by the opportunity.