human
Madam, I said,
gpt
No, she sighed.
human
I can not yet say.
gpt
A truce, then, Madam! Let us leave the one question against the other for a time.
human
Excellent! I shall get my answer first, in that case, and for nothing.
gpt
How so?
human
I shall only watch you. As we are here now, I were a fool, worse than you, if I could not tell whether or not you are married. None the less, I commend you, I admire you, because you do not tell me. If you are _not_, you are disappointed. If you _are_, you are eager!
gpt
I am in any case delighted that I can interest Madam.
human
Ah, but you do! I have not been interested, for so long! Ah, the great heavens, how fat was Mr. Pakenham, how thin was Mr. Calhoun! But you--come, Monsieur, the night is long. Tell me of yourself. I have never before known a savage.
gpt
Value for value only, Madam! Will you tell me in turn of yourself?
human
All?
gpt
Only so much as Madam wishes.
human
At least, she said,
gpt
In Heaven's name, how many of these homes have you, then? Are they all alike?
human
Five only, now, she replied, in the most matter-of-fact manner in the world,
gpt
Where else?
human
In Paris, in Vienna, in London, she answered.
gpt
You see this one, you see them all. 'Tis far cooler in Montreal than in Washington in the summer time. Do you not approve?
human
The arrangement could not be surpassed.
gpt
Thank you. So I have thought. The mere charm of difference does not appeal to me. Certain things my judgment approves. They serve, they suffice. This little scheme it has pleased me to reproduce in some of the capitals of the world. It is at least as well chosen as the taste of the Prince of Orleans, son of Louis Philippe, could advise.
human
My friend, she said,
gpt
I am not your judge, Madam, but it will be long before I shall think a harsh thought of you. Tell me what a woman may. Do not tell me what a secret agent may _not_. I ask no promises and make none. You are very beautiful. You have wealth. I call you `Madam.' You are married?
human
I was married at fifteen.
gpt
At fifteen! And your husband died?
human
He disappeared.
gpt
Your own country was Austria?
human
Call me anything but Austrian! I left my country because I saw there only oppression and lack of hope. No, I am Hungarian.
gpt
That I could have guessed. They say the most beautiful women of the world come from that country.
human
Thank you. Is that all?
gpt
I should guess then perhaps you went to Paris?
human
Of course, she said,
gpt
Allow me to give you wine. Well, then, Monsieur knows that when I left Paris I felt that part of my studies were complete. I had seen a little more of government, a little more of humanity, a little more of life, a little more of men. It was not men but mankind that I studied most. I had seen much of injustice and hopelessness and despair. These made the fate of mankind--in that world.
human
I have heard vaguely of some such things, Madam, I said.
gpt
I know that in Europe they have still the fight which we sought to settle when we left that country for this one.
human
So then, at last, she went on,
gpt
How long have you been in Washington?
human
Now you begin to question--now you show at last curiosity! Well, then, I shall answer. For more than one year, perhaps more than two, perhaps more than three!
gpt
Impossible! I shook my head.
human
A woman like you could not be concealed--not if she owned a hundred hidden places such as this.
gpt
Oh, I was known, she said.
human
You have heard of me, you knew of me?
gpt
No, said I,
human
I have been far in the West for several years, and have come to Washington but rarely. Bear me out, I had not been there my third day before I found you!