human
I'll be your friend, and get you out of the scrape, I said.
gpt
But it will mean that you must give up the Contessa.
human
Give up the Contessa! echoed the Boy.
gpt
What do _I_ want with the Contessa! I'm sick of the sight of her.
human
Since when?
gpt
Since the first day we met. I don't think she's even pretty. What you can see in her, I don't know--the silly little giggling thing! There, it's out at last.
human
What I see in her? I repeated.
gpt
I like that.
human
I always supposed you did. But I can't _stand_ her.
gpt
Well, of all the---- Look here, why have you been hanging after her, if you--
human
I didn't. I just wasn't going to let you make a fool of yourself over her, and then regret it afterwards. So I--I did my best to take her attention away from you, and I succeeded fairly well. It--vexed me to see you falling in love with her. She wasn't worth it.
gpt
There was never the remotest chance of my doing so.
human
You said there was.
gpt
I was chaffing, just to hear myself talk. I should have thought you would know that.
human
How could I know? You were always saying how pretty and dainty she was, and quoting poetry about her, while all the time I could read her shallow little mind, and see how different she was from what you imagined.
gpt
I think I have a fairly clear idea of her limitations.
human
But you told me that you'd planned to go down to Monte Carlo expressly to see the Contessa; and you said that it would perhaps be a wise thing for you to try and fall in love with her.
gpt
If a man has to try and fall in love with a woman, he's pretty safe. You and I seem to have been playing at cross purposes, youngster. You thought I was in danger of falling in love, and I thought you were already in.
human
You _couldn't_ have believed it, really.
gpt
I did, and supposed you wanted me out of the way.
human
I was thinking the same thing about you. You did seem jealous and sulky.
gpt
I was both; but it was because our friendship had been interfered with, Little Pal.
human
Oh, Man, do you really mean that?
gpt
Every word of it. I wouldn't give up a talk with you for a kiss from the Contessa, of which, by the way, I'm very unlikely to have the chance. But you----
human
I've been miserable for the last few days. I--I missed you, Man.
gpt
And I you, Boy.
human
What an awful pity it is I've got to stand up and be shot, just as we're good friends again, and everything's all right!
gpt
You've got to do nothing of the sort. _Le cher_ Paolo will, if he is really in earnest and not bluffing, send his friend to me, and matters will be settled, never fear.
human
I don't fear. At least, I--hope I don't--much. Only I wasn't brought up to expect challenges to duels. They're not--in my line. But I won't apologise, whatever happens. No, I won't, I won't, _I won't_. I dare say it doesn't hurt much, being shot; and I suppose he wouldn't be so--so impolite as to shoot me in the face, would he?
gpt
He is not going to shoot you anywhere,
human
I am glad I told you. I was feeling--rather queer. What am I to do? Am I to go back to the villa as if nothing had happened, or--what?
gpt
That's unkind. It was your own fault that I went to a different hotel at Châtelard.
human
How do you make that out?
gpt
I can't tell you. I don't suppose you'll ever know. But if you should guess, by-and-bye, remembering something you once said, you might understand.
human
Something I once said----
gpt
Never mind. Please don't talk of it. I'd rather be shot at. But I want you to believe that my reason wasn't the one you thought. Now, tell me what you're going to do about Signor di Nivoli. Have you made a plan?
human
One has popped into my head, I replied.
gpt
It mayn't answer, but will you give me _carte blanche_ to try? If it doesn't work, I'll get you out of the mess in another way. But this would give us a chance of making Paolo eat humble pie.
human
Do try it, then. I'd risk a lot for that.
gpt
As for to-night, on the whole I think the best thing will be for you to go back to the villa. Of course we mustn't let the Contessa suspect----
human
Little cat! I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
gpt
Upon my word, you're not very gallant.
human
I don't care. I'm sick of the Contessa. A plague upon her, and all her houses. Yet, I wish her nothing worse than that she should marry Paolo. Ugh! A man with his hair _en brosse_!
gpt
Probably he is saying, 'Ugh! a boy with curls on his collar.'
human
May one of his old balloons fly away with him, before he shoots me. Anyhow, he shall find that curls don't make a coward. Only--there's just one thing before you treat with him. I won't--I _can't_--be jabbed at with anything sharp.
gpt
You shan't,