human
Mon Dieu! monsieur, don't go so fast; it's no use. Don't you know what has happened?
gpt
What do you mean?
human
Poor Monsieur Albert is dead.
gpt
Dead! Great God!
human
Yes, monsieur; he was killed in a duel.
gpt
Killed in a duel?
human
Look you, concierge, he continued;
gpt
Alas! monsieur, I am only too sure.
human
How long has he been dead?
gpt
A month, the day after to-morrow, monsieur. I remember that fatal day perfectly well; they brought the poor fellow home in a cab, with a bullet in his side; I went for the doctor; and when he tried to take out the bullet, the wounded man shut his eyes--and it was all over.
human
Albert had returned to Paris, then?
gpt
Yes, monsieur; he came back first after he'd been gone quite a long while, but he only stayed about a week and then went off again. When he fought this duel, he'd only come home the night before.
human
Whom did he fight with? what was it about?
gpt
Mon Dieu! monsieur, nobody knows; the poor young man died so soon; he wasn't able to say anything; he didn't take anybody with him for a second but Joseph, his servant, who told us that his master fought a duel with pistols near Pantin, with a young man he, Joseph, didn't know, and who didn't have any second. You see, he hadn't been in Monsieur Albert's service long. As to the cause of the quarrel, he didn't know anything about it. I remember seeing a messenger go up to Monsieur Albert's rooms that day; I suppose he came to bring the challenge. That's all I know.
human
It's all very obscure. Where is this Joseph? I should like to talk with him.
gpt
He's gone back to his province. As Monsieur Albert was dead, Monsieur Vermoncey didn't keep him. Ah! that poor man--he's terribly broken up; he don't go out, nor see anyone. But, if you'd like to try to see him, monsieur----
human
No, no, it's not necessary; I have no desire to disturb his grief.--Well, as poor Albert is dead, there's nothing for me to do but go away.