human
You have something to say to me?
gpt
Yes, it's quite a story, said Madame Sidonie, joining her hands and assuming the expression of a glutton who is about to relate what she has eaten at dinner.
human
Just fancy, Monsieur de Saffré is in love with the beautiful Madame Saccard. Yes, with yourself, my pretty one.
gpt
Indeed! she remarked,
human
Oh! that's finished, quite finished--I can prove it to you if you like. Don't you know then that little Michelin has pleased Baron Gouraud? It's incredible. Every one who knows the baron is amazed. And now she's on the way to obtaining the red ribbon for her husband! Ah, she's a woman of spirit. She isn't faint-hearted, she doesn't need any one to steer her boat.
gpt
But to return to Monsieur de Saffré--It would seem that he met you at an actresses' ball, muffled up in a domino, and he even accuses himself of having somewhat cavalierly offered you a supper. Is it true?
human
Perfectly true, murmured she;
gpt
Wait a bit, he pretends that he recognised you later on, when you were no longer in the room, and that he remembered having seen you leave on Maxime's arm. Since then he has been madly in love. It has grown in his heart, you understand, been a sudden fancy. He came to see me to beg me to make you his apologies--
human
Well, tell him that I forgive him,
gpt
Ah! my good Sidonie, I am awfully bothered. It is absolutely necessary that I should have fifty thousand francs to-morrow morning. I came to speak to you about the matter. You know some money-lenders, you told me.
human
Yes, certainly; only, I advise you, first of all to try and obtain the money from a friend. If I were in your place I know very well what I should do. I should simply apply to Monsieur de Saffré.
gpt
But it would hardly be proper, she answered,
human
Poor dear, she muttered,