"Is your embarrassment really painful, Newman?
The marquis will put you right again; his own touch is deliciously delicate." "Valentin, I am sorry to say," the marquis continued, "has never possessed the tone, the manner, that belongs to a young man in his position.

It has been a great affliction to his mother, who is very fond of the old traditions.

But you must remember that he speaks for no one but himself." "Oh, I don't mind him, sir," said Newman, good-humoredly.

"I know what he amounts to." "In the good old times," said Valentin, "marquises and counts used to have their appointed fools and jesters, to crack jokes for them.
Nowadays we see a great strapping democrat keeping a count about him to play the fool.

It's a good situation, but I certainly am very degenerate." M.de Bellegarde fixed his eyes for some time on the floor.