human
I protest it is too good of you, Diane, he whispered, as he paid her all these attentions,
gpt
The gossip of your menials! the lady exclaimed.
human
The gossip of your menials? Will this fresh incident expose us to any further gossip, do you suppose? It is a long while since our names have been coupled together, Monsieur le Duc.
gpt
Monsieur le Duc! he repeated.
human
What a form of address! Monsieur le Duc! My name to you is--has ever been--Armand.
gpt
Ay, 'tis so, she answered, while, even as she continued speaking a little bitterly to him, she shifted her feet upon the footstool, so that they should get their full share of the luxurious warmth of the fire.
human
she said, addressing him shortly,
gpt
It is twenty years, she said,
human
Alas!
gpt
Yes, twenty years, she continued.
human
A long while, is it not? I, a young widow then; you, Armand Desparre, a penniless porte-drapeau in the Regiment de Bellebrune. Yet not so penniless either, if I remember aright --and the blue eyes looked steely now, as they gazed from beneath their thick auburn fringe at him--
gpt
Diane, he interrupted,
human
Unseemly! Heavens! Yes, they are unseemly. However, no matter for that. You are no longer a poor man. Armand Desparre is rich, he is no more the poor marching soldier, he is Monsieur le Duc Desparre.
gpt
More recollections, he said, with still another shrug.
human
Diane, we know all this. The world, our world, knows who and what I am.
gpt
Also our world knows, expects, that there is to be a Duchess Desparre.
human
Yes, he answered,
gpt
Expects! My God! she exclaimed vehemently,
human
It does not know all. Meanwhile, and his eye glanced towards the heap of swords in the corner of the room,
gpt
There are men of the De Poissy family, she replied, and her glance, too, rested on those swords.
human
Desparre is not the only master of fence in Paris.
gpt
Chut! They are your kinsmen. I do not desire to slay them, nor, I presume, will they desire to slay me. And, desiring, what could they do? De Poissy himself is only a boy.
human
He is the head of the house. He will not see the wife of the late head slighted.