human
Ananias!
gpt
Ye-as, suh?
human
What time is it?
gpt
Gyahd-mountin' done gone, suh.
human
The devil it has! What do you mean, sir, by allowing me to sleep on in this shameless and unconscionable manner, when an indulgent government is suffering for my services? What sort of day is it, sir?
gpt
Beautiful day, Mr. Waring.
human
Then go at once to Mr. Larkin and tell him he can't wear his new silk hat this morning,--I want it, and you fetch it. Don't allow him to ring in the old one on you. Tell him I mean the new 'spring style' he just brought from New York. Tell Mr. Ferry I want that new Hatfield suit of his, and you get Mr. Pierce's silk umbrella; then come back here and get my bath and my coffee. Stop there, Ananias! Give my pious regards to the commanding officer, sir, and tell him that there's no drill for 'X' Battery this morning, as I'm to breakfast at Moreau's at eleven o'clock and go to the _matinée_ afterwards.
gpt
Beg pahdon, suh, but de cunnle's done ohdered review fo' de whole command, suh, right at nine o'clock.
human
So much the better. Then Captain Cram must stay, and won't need his swell team. Go right down to the stable and tell Jeffers I'll drive at nine-thirty.
gpt
But----
human
No buts, you incorrigible rascal! I don't pay you a princely salary to raise obstacles. I don't pay you at all, sir, except at rare intervals and in moments of mental decrepitude. Go at once! Allez! Chassez! Skoot!
gpt
But, lieutenant, says Ananias, his black face shining, his even white teeth all agleam,
human
Captain Cram stopped in on de way back from stables to say Glenco 'd sprained his foot and you was to ride de bay colt. _Please_ get up, suh. Boots and Saddles 'll soun' in ten minutes.
gpt
It won't, but if it does I'll brain the bugler. Tell him so. Tell Captain Cram he's entirely mistaken: I won't ride the bay colt--nor Glenco. I'm going driving, sir, with Captain Cram's own team and road-wagon. Tell _him_ so. Going in forty-five minutes by my watch. Where is it, sir?
human
It ain't back from de jeweller's, suh, where you done lef' it day before yist'day; but his boy's hyuh now, suh, wid de bill for las' year. What shall I tell him?
gpt
Tell him to go to--quarantine. No! Tell him the fever has broken out here again, sir, and not to call until ten o'clock next spring,--next mainspring they put in that watch. Go and get Mr. Merton's watch. Tell him I'll be sure to overstay in town if he doesn't send it, and then I can't take him up and introduce him to those ladies from Louisville to-morrow. Impress that on him, sir, unless he's gone and left it on his bureau, in which case impress the watch,--the watch, sir, in any case. No! Stop again, Ananias; _not_ in any case, only in the gold hunting-case; no other. Now then, vanish!
human
But, lieutenant, 'fo' Gawd, suh, dey'll put you in arrest if you cuts drill dis time. Cunnle Braxton says to Captain Cram only two days ago, suh, dat----