human
There, now!
gpt
Fräulein, you are very kind to me,
human
Yes--yes, I am, Sir Max, she responded, beaming on him.
gpt
Now, tell me what you and Twonette have been talking about.
human
You,
gpt
What else?
human
I'll tell you if you will tell me what you and Sir Karl were saying,
gpt
Ah, I see! she exclaimed, clapping her hands gleefully.
human
You were jealous.
gpt
I admit it, he answered, so very seriously that one might have thought him in earnest.
human
And you, Fräulein?
gpt
I jealous? she responded, with lifted eyebrows.
human
You are a vain man, Sir Max. I was not jealous--only--only a tiny bit--so much-- and she measured the extent of her jealousy on the pink tip of her little finger.
gpt
I am told you were falconing with the Duke of Burgundy to-day. If you go in such fine company, I fear we shall see little of you.
human
There is no company finer than--than--
gpt
Say it, Max, say it,
human
Than you, Fräulein. The girl leaned back contentedly against the wall, and Max continued:
gpt
Yes, his lordship was kind to me, and most gracious. I cannot believe the stories of cruelty I hear of him. I have been told that on different occasions he has used personal violence on his wife and daughter. If that be true, he must be worse than the brutes of the field, but you may be sure, Yolanda, the stories are false.
human
Alas! I fear they are too true,
gpt
He is a pleasing companion when he wishes to be, said Max,
human
Heavens! exclaimed Yolanda,
gpt
I hope she is like him only when he is pleasing.
human
That is probably true,
gpt
There is where I am really jealous, Max--this princess--
human
Why?
gpt
Because men love wealth and high estate. There are scores of men--at least, so I have been told--eager to marry this princess, who do not even know that she is not hideous to look upon and vixenish in temper. They would take her gladly, with any deformity, physical, mental, or moral, for the sake of possessing Burgundy.
human
But I am told she is fair and beautiful,
gpt
Believe it not, said Yolanda, sullenly.
human
Whoever heard of a rich princess who was not beautiful? Anne and Joan, daughters of King Louis, are always spoken of as paragons of beauty; yet those who know tell me these royal ladies are hideous. King Louis has nicknamed Joan 'The Owlet' because she is little, ill-shapen, and black. Anne is tall, large of bone, fat, and sallow. He should name her 'The Giantess of Beaujeu'; and the little half-witted Dauphin he should dub 'Knight of the Princely Order of House Rats.'
gpt
I hope you do not speak so freely to others, said Max.
human
If His Grace of Burgundy should hear of your words he might--
gpt
I hope you will not tell him, said Yolanda, laughing.
human
But this Mary! she continued, clinging stubbornly to the dangerous topic.
gpt
You came to woo her estates, and in the end you will do so.