Date: 1881
 With pleasure, said the Count, and rose to go.  Then Lucy, blushing, murmured, "If it is not giving you too much trouble," and went off' with the Count to see the machinery , Madame telling them that she and Gus would stay where they were till they came back.  As soon as he was left alone with Madame, Gus, after some preliminary conversation, plunged in medias res by saying he wanted to ask her advice about his engagement, " as she was Lucy's confidante," he said.