human
Mr. Davenant wasn't on the _Louisiana_. It was Aunt Vic. Mr. Davenant has just come from the West. You do that by train.
gpt
Of course he was on the _Louisiana_. Landed on the--let me see!--she sailed again yesterday!--landed on the 20th, didn't you?
human
No, no, Olivia corrected again, smiling.
gpt
That was the day Aunt Vic landed. You're getting every one mixed.
human
But they came together, Ashley persisted.
gpt
He brought her. Didn't you?
human
You'll have to forgive me, Miss Guion, he stammered.
gpt
I--I deceived you. I couldn't think of anything else to do.
human
But I don't know what you did, as it is. I can't understand--what--what any one is saying.
gpt
Then I'll tell you, by Jove! All the time you thought he was out there at Michigan he was over in France, following up the Marquise. Tracked her like a bloodhound, what? Told her the whole story--how we'd got to a deadlock--and everything. Made her think that unless she came and bailed us out we'd be caught there for the rest of our lives.
human
Is that true?
gpt
It's true, by Jove!--true as you live. What's more, he cracked me up as though I was the only man alive--said that when it came to a question of who was worthy--worthy to marry you--he wasn't fit to black my boots.
human
No, Davenant cried, fiercely.
gpt
There was no question of me.
human
Bosh! Bosh, my good fellow! When a man does what you've done there's no question of any one but him.
gpt
Since Colonel Ashley knows so well what happened, I shall leave him to tell it.
human
No, no. Wait--please wait. Tell me why you did it.
gpt
I'll tell you, Ashley broke in. He spoke with a kind of nervous jauntiness.
human
I'll tell you, by Jove! We had a row. I called him a cad. I called him a damned cad. There _was_ a damned cad present on that occasion--only--I didn't hit the right nail on the head. But that's not what I'm coming to. He struck me. He struck me right in the teeth, by Jove! And when a man strikes you, it's an insult that can only be wiped out by blood. Very well; he's offered it--his blood. He didn't wait for me to draw it. I suppose he thought I wouldn't go in for the heroic. So of his own accord he went over there to France and shed his heart's blood, in the hope that I might overlook his offence. All right, old chap; I overlook it.
gpt
Miss Guion, Davenant said, huskily,
human
Colonel Ashley is pleased to put his own interpretation on what was in itself a very simple thing. You mayn't think it a very creditable thing, but I'll tell you just what happened, and you can draw your own conclusions. I went over to France, and saw your aunt, the Marquise, and asked her to let me have my money back. That's the plain truth of it. She'll tell you so herself. I'd heard she was very fond of you--devoted to you--and that she was very rich and generous--and so I thought, if I told her exactly how matters stood, it would be a good chance to--to--recoup myself for--the loan.
gpt
He does that well, doesn't he? he said to Olivia.
human
Come along, old boy, he added, slipping his arm through Davenant's.
gpt
If I let you stay here you'll perjure your very soul.
human
Fellows are never good friends till after they've had a fight.