human
Who are you?
gpt
Don't you _know_ who I am? answered the other, and now her emotion broke through the mask of calm.
human
I am the lady who--who called for M. Kittredge last night.
gpt
Oh! burst out Alice scornfully.
human
A lady! You call yourself a _lady!_
gpt
Call me anything you like but----
human
I don't wish to speak to you; it's an outrage your coming here; I--I'm going down.
gpt
Wait! cried the visitor.
human
You _shall_ hear me. I have come to help the man you love.
gpt
The man _you_ love, blazed the girl.
human
The man whose life you have ruined.
gpt
It's true I--I loved him,
human
What _right_ had you to love him, you a married woman?
gpt
He told you that?
human
Yes, because he was forced to--the thing was known. Don't be afraid, he didn't tell your name, he _never_ would tell it. But I know enough, I know that you tortured him and--when he got free from you, after struggling and--starving and----
gpt
Starving?
human
Yes, starving. After all that, when he was just getting a little happy, _you_ had to come again, and--and now he's _there_.
gpt
I hate you, I _hate_ you,
human
Hate me if you will, but _hear_ me.
gpt
No, went on Alice fiercely,
human
What do you want to know?
gpt
I want to know, first, who you are. I want your name and address.
human
Certainly; I am--er--Madam Marius, and I live at--er--6 Avenue Martignon.
gpt
Ah! May I have one of your cards?
human
I--er--I'm afraid I have no card here,
gpt
Valentine,
human
Yes,
gpt
Ah, you are there. I may need you in a minute.
human
Valentine is a friend of mine. She sells postal cards up here. Unless you tell me the truth, I shall ask her to go down and call the sacristan. Now then, _who are you?_
gpt
Don't ask who I am,
human
I ask what I want to know.
gpt
Anything but that!
human
Then you are _not_ Madam Marius?
gpt
No.
human
You lied to me?
gpt
Yes.
human
Valentine! called Alice, and promptly a girl of about sixteen, bare-headed, appeared at the end of the gallery.
gpt
Go down and ask Papa Bonneton to come here at once. Say it's important. Hurry!
human
But--what will you tell him?
gpt
I shall tell him you were concerned in that crime last night. I don't know what it was, I haven't read the papers, but he has.
human
Do you want to ruin me? cried the woman; then, with a supplicating gesture:
gpt
Spare me this shame; I will give you money, a large sum. See here! and, opening her gold bag, she drew out some folded notes.
human
I'll give you a thousand francs--five thousand. Don't turn away! I'll give you more--my jewels, my pearls, my rings. Look at them.
gpt
You are not even intelligent, Alice flung back;
human
Forgive me, I don't know what I am saying, begged the other.
gpt
Don't be angry. Listen; you say I was a fool to come here, but it isn't true. I realized my danger, I knew what I was risking, and yet I came, because I _had_ to come. I felt I could trust you. I came in my desperation because there was no other person in Paris I dared go to.
human
Is that true?
gpt
Indeed it is, implored the lady, her eyes swimming with tears.
human
I beg your pardon sincerely for offering you money. I know you are loyal and kind and--I'm ashamed of myself. I have suffered so much since last night that--as you say, I must be mad.