human
Must you?
gpt
Must what, please,
human
Must you go? I see you must. So sorry. Good-bye.
gpt
I do not want to----
human
To be bored. Naturally; a widow is but dull company. Please do not leave us in the dark. The button is on the right-hand side of the door. No; that is wrong! She rose and switched on the light herself.
gpt
That is better! Don't you think it is? So good of you to come and cheer me! Then, dropping her voice,
human
Paris?
gpt
I shall cross on Wednesday, he murmured;
human
What pleasure you promise me! she retorted; and, closing the door, came back to the waiting diplomatist, yawning daintily.
gpt
Excuse me, M. Aksakoff: I have just ended a bad quarter of an hour.
human
That young man, madame?
gpt
The same. He wants to marry me. Shocking, isn't it, seeing that I scarcely know how to pose as a widow?
human
But natural on his part, surely.
gpt
How nicely you pay compliments! By the way, sliding away from the subject,
human
It is kind of you to enlarge my circle of acquaintance, madame. I presume you desire to speak of this gentleman?
gpt
No; why should I?
human
Our conversation at Monte Carlo----
gpt
Did we converse? So we did! Something about a sunset, wasn't it?
human
Can we not drop our masks, madame?
gpt
I never knew that we wore such things, said Lady Jim, lightly.
human
I am sure I do not. Why should I?
gpt
But you sent for me.
human
I did, to ask you for some letters to nice people in Paris.
gpt
Ah! His face lighted up.
human
You go to Paris?
gpt
My good friend, have I not said so? And the letters?
human
I shall be delighted ; Aksakoff was now beginning to understand the necessity of reading between the remarks.
gpt
But are letters necessary? I hope to be in Paris myself next week.
human
How delightful! You will be able to amuse me. Do not look shocked. I assure you I only wish to drown my grief.
gpt
Of course, assented Aksakoff, dryly; then added, with a significance she ignored:
human
Do you go alone to Paris?
gpt
Oh, dear me, no. Miss Tallentire goes with me. A charming girl who is engaged to my cousin, the Rev. Lionel Kaimes. We stay for a week at the Hotel Henri Trois, Champs Élysées. Very quietly, you know, as I am still mourning.
human
As you are still in mourning,
gpt
Certainly. You would not have me flaunting colours with poor dear Jim just dead. I want to be cheered up, and I ask you and Mr. Askew to cheer me.
human
Oh! ah! Aksakoff wrinkled his brow.
gpt
Mr. Askew goes to Paris, also?
human
He said something about it. Such a nuisance, seeing that he thinks--well, I told you.
gpt
Madame, his thoughts are excusable. But M. Demetrius will be angered.
human
What do you mean?
gpt
We spoke at Monte Carlo, he reminded her.
human
Surely we understand one another.
gpt
Possibly you may. I am quite in the dark. Why should you couple my name with that of M. Demetrius?
human
Report says that he loves you.
gpt
Oh--report! She laughed, frankly amused.
human
If you believe reports---- Here a shrug and a contemptuous laugh.
gpt
Why, reports leave no one a shred of character. I quite expect that my enemies--Mrs. Penworthy, for one--will say that Mr. Askew followed me to Paris, for the purpose of marrying me at the British Embassy.
human
I trust that Mrs. Penworthy, whom I have the honour to know, will not spread such a report,
gpt
Oh, but she will. A horrid woman, and scarcely respectable. She has called in Dr. Demetrius as her medical attendant, and if--as you say--he admires me, she is sure to make mischief.
human
Well, said Aksakoff, reflectively,
gpt
I am perfectly sure that if M. Demetrius heard such gossip, he would----
human
Forbid the banns, finished Leah, hastily and derisively.
gpt
Pah! Do you think, knowing his danger, he would trust himself in Paris? You are entirely wrong, M. Aksakoff. Our mutual friend left me this very afternoon to follow your daughter. Let him marry her--now do.
human
No, said Aksakoff, setting down his cup.
gpt
Until he surrenders Katinka he is safer in England.
human
In that case, please do not let Mrs. Penworthy gossip him into crossing the Channel.
gpt
For your sake, I will not, said Aksakoff, dryly, and with every intention of aiding and abetting Mrs. Penworthy.
human
Will you give me another cup of tea?