human
Monsieur, it is--it is about--about monsieur your son.
gpt
My son! cried Monsieur Vermoncey, who instantly recalled the first time that Paul had come to see him, and feared that another duel was on the carpet.
human
My son--what has happened to him?--is he in danger? Speak!
gpt
No, monsieur; no, he is not in danger; and when I say that it's about him--I should say that I have come on my own account, that it's myself who---- _Sacrédié!_--excuse me, monsieur, but I am so worked up--it ain't fear--but it makes me feel queer. One minute, monsieur; my mind is coming back, and, after all, why shouldn't I dare to speak to you? you are an honorable man. I'm a miserable fool to tremble so--now, it's all over!
human
My name is Étienne Renaud, the messenger continued, in a firm voice;
gpt
I come from Auvergne; I came to Paris to be a messenger, and they have given me the name of Sans-Cravate here; it's a nickname of no consequence, and I don't mind it. My regular stand is on the corner of Rue du Helder and the boulevard.
human
I remember now that I have seen you there, said Monsieur Vermoncey,
gpt
No, monsieur; no, it hasn't anything to do with him. I must tell you, monsieur, that I left a very pretty sister in Auvergne, who is seventeen years old now; a lady in Clermont took a fancy to her and insisted on taking her into her family, to give her an education, like a young lady. My sister's an honest girl, d'ye see, monsieur; leastways, she was till the devil sent a young gentleman from Paris down that way, and he began to hang about the house. He saw my Liline and thought she was pretty--_dame!_ it would be hard for anyone not to think so,--the sweetest little face in Auvergne; and now she has distinguished manners, so that anyone would swear she was a princess! Well, monsieur, to cut it short, this young man--who's a good-looking fellow, too, worse luck! and all the women like him--well, he seduced my sister! The poor child! she believed in love right away, as you believe fine weather's coming when you see the first swallows. He told her a lot of things to turn her head, and made her believe my father had refused to give him her hand; which ain't true, I am sure, for my father loves her too dearly to refuse to give her to the man she loves. In short, he promised, swore, that he'd marry her, if she'd consent to come to Paris with him; and my sister believed it all, she never thought for a moment that the young man meant to deceive her, so she yielded to his entreaties. She came to Paris with her--her lover--I might as well say the word. And the young man who did all this is your son, monsieur, Monsieur Albert!
human
My son! cried Monsieur Vermoncey, fastening his eyes upon Sans-Cravate, unable to believe that he had heard aright.
gpt
My son has done that! Oh, no! you are mistaken; you have been misinformed.
human
Oh! it's only too true, monsieur; there's no chance of any mistake. I know Monsieur Albert well; I've been his messenger a long while; and as he always spoke pleasantly to me, I liked him--yes, I was fond of him; his good humor, his pleasant manners, his happy disposition, perhaps his very faults--all fascinated me too. In fact, I would have jumped into the fire for him; and he knew it, and he always came for me when he had some shady errand to be done. I hadn't seen him for more than two months, and I'd concluded he was travelling somewhere, when he came after me at my stand about half-past nine this morning.
gpt
This morning?
human
Yes, monsieur; it ain't an old story, you see.--'Sans-Cravate,' he says, 'I've brought a lovely girl back to Paris with me, but my father mustn't know anything about it. I took lodgings for her a long way off, on Rue de Grenelle-Saint-Germain; but I have just found out that one of my father's intimate friends lives on that street now.'
gpt
True--Monsieur Delmas. Well?
human
My son has done that! abducted a virtuous girl! and seduced her! Oh! that is very bad--it is----
gpt
I am only a poor, uneducated messenger, monsieur. But I have my honor, and I care all the more for it, d'ye see, because it's all I've got. At first I cried with my sister, and broke her heart by telling her that her seducer was probably a fickle fellow who only intended to deceive her as he has a thousand other women; but she seems so convinced of his love; and then, she's so sweet and pretty, poor Liline! After all, why shouldn't Monsieur Albert love her sincerely? That thought brought back my courage, and I comforted her and made up my mind right off to come and tell you the whole story, because you're the young man's father, and it can't be fixed without your consent. I thought, monsieur, that you would listen to the voice of poor people who may be ruined by your son--but who can be made very happy by you, if you choose.