human
I have come rather tardily, madame, he said,
gpt
Why, no, monsieur; not at all. You had burned yourself in my cause; surely, the least I could do was to inquire concerning the condition of your burn; it was my duty; whereas there was no sort of obligation on you, monsieur, to put yourself out and waste your time by calling upon me.
human
Oh! madame, allow me to believe that you do not think so ill of me as to deem it possible that it could put me out to come to see you. I should be a very unfortunate mortal if it were not a pleasure to me. But my reason for not coming was----
gpt
Well, monsieur, it was----?
human
Mon Dieu! madame, I don't know just how to say it. I am embarrassed----
gpt
You, monsieur, embarrassed with a lady! Oh! I can't believe it--unless, indeed, you have something very disagreeable to say to her; in that case, I can imagine that it comes hard to you.
human
Ah! it seems to me that one could never willingly be disagreeable to you--and yet----
gpt
Well! you haven't told me yet why you didn't come before.
human
Well, madame, it was because I thought that when a man had the good fortune to be received by you, he must inevitably feel a desire to come often--yes, very often--and that that might offend you.
gpt
Really? was that why you didn't come?
human
Yes. You know, madame, there is a proverb that warns us against playing with fire; and, to me, you are the fire at this moment.
gpt
You have already proved to my satisfaction that you are not afraid of it. Do all women cause you such terror? Frankly, monsieur, I do not believe it!
human
Oh, no, madame! there are some with whom one cannot encounter anything more dangerous than an _ignis fatuus_--and that is not to be feared.
gpt
A truce to jesting, Monsieur Adhémar; I want to see your wrist, and satisfy myself that it is really well.