human
My service to you, sir, said he, with an old-fashioned bow;
gpt
I am Andrew Davenport, if you remember.
human
I do remember Andrew Davenport, if you are he; you are so changed that I need scarcely beg pardon for not recollecting you sooner.
gpt
Same to you, sir. Gad, sir, yellow fever is no joke, and you took it worse than me by a long chalk.
human
How comes it that you have had yellow fever? When did you come here?
gpt
About a month ago. Came here with a face as red as a lobster, and as broad as that. Look at it now. I don't begrudge it though, when I see you looking so much better than ever I thought to see you when first I looked at you in this bed. We have much to be thankful for, Colonel Brand.
human
I fail to understand. What brought you to Key West, and what have you to do with me?
gpt
A good deal, my young sir. I have to escort you home to your castle, for one thing.
human
I am astonished that you should come all this way to waste words upon such a subject. I thought that by this time Miss Walsingham would be married, and that I could go on my way rejoicing.
gpt
Married to that impostor, who hoped to fill your shoes? Pho! what do you take us all for? Well, after all, I needn't take any share of the glory. It was Miss Margaret herself, who found out the whole conspiracy, and set off like a brave young woman as she is, taking me for company, to find you, sir.
human
Heavens! What did she want of me?
gpt
Gad! sir, if you really don't know, all I can say is that she's the first woman I ever saw who could hold her tongue! It was to find you out and give you the property of Seven-Oak Waaste, the lands, houses, etc., attached, that she came while the plague was literally raging, to this confounded rat-trap, where, if one gets in they can't get out.
human
Is Margaret Walsingham in Key West?
gpt
She is.
human
Then it is she who has been troubling my poor darling with this wretched story.
gpt
In Key West, and I leave you to judge whether she makes a good sick nurse or no.
human
Has she been my nurse?
gpt
To be sure? Nice place you've got here, sir! Everything as dainty as a lady's boudoir; and what a magnificent bunch of flowers! Think of that in March!
human
Miss Walsingham--my Perdita! The girl who risked her life for me!
gpt
Even so. Precious short were her visits to my bedside, for watching at yours; and between us she's had a wearing time of it, the dear, kindly girl!
human
Good Heaven--is my own darling, that Miss Walsingham?
gpt
Yes, and I thank Heaven to hear that from you. You love her, so it's all right.