human
She is dead. Our existence together was short. We loved each other dearly, but it pleased God to take her from me. She died a year after our marriage, in giving birth to the babe.
gpt
It was sad, very sad.
human
And madame--_pauvre dame!_--was she, too, English, or of some French family?
gpt
She was, monseigneur, a simple French girl. Of no family--such as you, monseigneur, would know of. A girl of the people, of the _bourgeoisie_. Yet I loved her; she became my wife, and now--now --and he looked meditatively down into the ashes of the (by this time) charred and burnt-out logs--
human
I have no wife. That is all. Monseigneur, permit me to wish you good-night.
gpt
You asked me, Monsieur St. Georges, this evening, why his Most Christian Majesty should have thought fit through Louvois to direct you to stay at my house in Dijon? I shall not see you to-morrow ere you depart; let me therefore be frank. The king--and Louvois also--are in correspondence with me on a political matter, which must not even be trusted to the post, nor to courier, nor messenger. Nay, we do not even write what we have to say, but, instead, correspond by words and signs. Now, you are a trusty man--you will go far--already I see your captaincy of a troop looming up before you. Therefore I will send by you one word and one alone. You cannot forget it, for it is perhaps the simplest in our or any language. You will convey it?
human
I am the king's servant. What is the word, monseigneur?
gpt
The word '_Yes_.'
human
The word '_Yes_,' the _chevau-léger_ repeated.
gpt
The word '_Yes_.' That is it? No more?
human
Nothing more. Simply the word '_Yes_.' Yet stay, remember my instructions. The word is sent as much to Louvois as to the king. It is a common message to both. And there is one other thing. The Marquise de Roquemaure is also concerned in this matter; she will without doubt ask you what the word is I have sent. And, monsieur, there is no need of secrecy with her. You may frankly tell her.
gpt
I may say that the word you send is '_Yes_'?
human
Precisely.
gpt
I shall remember.
human
The bed, I trust, he said, addressing the servant,
gpt
So! he rides to Troyes to-morrow, repeated the domestic, surlily--
human
At daybreak,
gpt
Good-night,