human
What's the matter?
gpt
Oh, Man, I'm in _the most awful scrape_.
human
What's up?
gpt
I should be thankful to tell you about it, and get your advice, if--you were like you used to be.
human
It's you who have changed, not I.
gpt
No, it's you.
human
Don't let's dispute about it. Tell me what's the trouble. Has that bounder been cheeking you?
gpt
Worse than that. He said things that made me angry, and--then I checked him.
human
Just now--under this tree?
gpt
It began at dinner, a little. But the particular thing I'm speaking of happened here. I couldn't stand it, you know.
human
What did he say?
gpt
He asked me how old I was, at first--in _such_ a tone! I answered that I was old enough to know my way about, I hoped. He said he should have thought not, as I travelled with my nurse. Then he wanted to know what was in Souris' pack, whether I carried condensed milk for my nursing-bottle. It was all I could do to keep from boxing his ears, before everyone, but I kept still, and laughed a little; presently I answered in a drawling sort of way, saying I needn't tell him that what Souris carried was no affair of his, because when I came to think of it, after all it was quite natural that a great donkey should be interested in a small one.
human
By Jove, you little fire-eater!
gpt
Well, I had to show him that I was an American, anyhow.
human
I suppose he was annoyed.
gpt
He was very much annoyed. Man, he's challenged me to fight a duel. Only think of it, a real duel! He said I'd have to fight, or he'd thrash me for a coward. I--it's a horrid scrape, but I don't see how I'm going to get out of it with--with honour. Will you--if I do have to--but look here, I won't have him running me through with a _sword_, or anything of that sort. I'm afraid I couldn't face that. I wouldn't mind a revolver quite as much.
human
The big bully! I exclaimed.
gpt
But of course it's all rot. There can be no question of your fighting him.
human
I don't know. I'd rather do that--if we could have pistols--than have him think an American--could be a coward. I'm not a coward, I hope, only--only I never thought of anything like this. He's going to send a friend of his to call on you, as a friend of mine, he said. I suppose that means a what-you-may-call-'em--a 'second,' doesn't it? If I must fight with him, Man, you will be my second, won't you, and--and act for me, if that's the right word?