human
It sounds wonderful! she said.
gpt
I'm so glad! But may I give you a little bit of advice?
human
Yes, do.
gpt
Don't say anything about it to Henriette--Madame Sennier.
human
No. But--
gpt
Why not? I scarcely know. My instinct! Don't!
human
I won't,
gpt
I'd give anything to read it. But if I were you I wouldn't let anyone read it. As you probably know, I'm in half the secrets of the artistic world, and always have been. But there isn't one woman in a hundred who can be trusted to hold her tongue. Is this the hotel? Good-night. Yes, isn't it a delicious coat? _Bonne nuit_, Amor! _À demain!_
human
It is all right, she whispered.
gpt
I shall have the libretto to-morrow.
human
It's splendid! she almost whispered.
gpt
With such a libretto you can't fail.
human
Don't let anyone know I've read it--especially Henriette. She's a dear and a great friend of mine, but, all the same, she'd be horribly jealous. There's only one thing about the libretto that frightens me.
gpt
What is it? Do tell me!
human
Having so many Easterns in it. If by any chance you should ever want to produce your opera-- She hesitated, with her eyes fixed upon him.
gpt
In America, I fancy--no, I think I'm being absurd.
human
But what do you mean? Do tell me! Not that there's the slightest chance yet of my opera ever being done anywhere.
gpt
Well, it's only that Americans do so hate what they call color.
human
Oh, but that is only in negroes!
gpt
Is it? Then I'm talking nonsense! I'm so glad! Not a word to Henriette! Hush! Here she is!
human
What are you two doing here? Where is Max?
gpt
Gone to arrange about the sleeping-car.