Newman closed the door behind them and came back to Valentin's bedside.

Bellegarde had watched all this intently.
"It's very bad, it's very bad," he said, after Newman had seated himself close to him.

"The more I think of it the worse it is." "Oh, don't think of it," said Newman.
But Valentin went on, without heeding him.

"Even if they should come round again, the shame--the baseness--is there." "Oh, they won't come round!" said Newman.
"Well, you can make them." "Make them ?" "I can tell you something--a great secret--an immense secret.

You can use it against them--frighten them, force them." "A secret!" Newman repeated.