human
Dat little trick? she said fondly.
gpt
Oh, yass'm, it wah de salvation o' de Lawd 'pon cloudy nights; but time an' ag'in us had to sepa'ate, 'llowin' fo' to rejine togetheh on de bank o' de nex' creek, an' which, de Lawd a-he'pin' of us, h-it al'ays come to pass; an' so, afteh all, Miss Maud, de one thing what stan' us de bes' frien' night 'pon night, next to Gawd hisse'f, dat wah his clock in de ske-eye.
human
Landry, Chester said next day, bringing back the magazine barely half an hour after the book-shop had reopened,
gpt
Ah, something inside tells you?
human
No need! You remember this, near the end? '_Poor Mingo had failed [to escape]; if I ever tell of him it must be at another time_.' Landry, it's so absurd that I hardly have the face to say it; I've got--ha-ha-ha!--I've got a manuscript! and it fills that gap! The speaker whipped out the
gpt
Memorandum ;
human
Here's the story, by my own uncle, of how the three got over the border and how Mingo failed. I'd totally forgotten I had it. I disliked its beginning far more than I did 'Maud's' yesterday. For I hate masks and costumes as much as Mr. Castanado loves them; and a practical joke--which is what the story begins with, in costume, though it soon leaves it behind--nauseates me. Comical situation it makes for me, this 'Memorandum,' doesn't it--turning up this way?
gpt
To lend it, even to me, would seem as though you sought----
human
It would put me in a false light! I don't like false lights.
gpt
It would mask and costume you.
human
Why, not so badly as if I were really in society; as, you know, I'm not! The only place where any man, but especially a society man, can properly seek a girl's society is in society. The more he's worthy to meet her, the more hopelessly--I needn't say hopelessly, but completely--he's cut off from meeting her any other way. Isn't that a gay situation? Ha-ha-ha!
gpt
You would probably move much in society, even Creole society, without meeting mademoiselle; she has less time for it than you.
human
Is that so?
gpt
Think of it! The awful pity! For the like of her! Of her! Why, how on earth--? No, don't tell! I know what I'd think of any other man following in her wake and asking questions while hard fortune writes her history. A girl like her, Landry, has no business with a history!
human
Mr. Chester.
gpt
Yes?
human
Has that 'Memorandum' never been printed? I can find out for you, in _Poole's Index_.
gpt
Do it! It's good enough, and it's named as if to be printed. See? 'The Angel of----'
human
Then why not have Mr. Castanado, while selecting a publisher for mademoiselle's manuscript, select for both?
gpt
Why--why, happy thought! I'll consider that, indeed I will! Well, good mor'----
human
Mr. Chester.
gpt
Well?
human
Why did you want that new book yesterday?
gpt
I've met that nice old man the book calls 'the judge,' and he's coaxed me to break my rules and dine with him, at his home uptown, to-night.
human
I'm glad. Madame, his wife, was my young mistress when I was a slave. I wish her granddaughter and his grandson--they also are married--were not over in the war--Red Cross. You'd like them--and they would like you.
gpt
Do they know mademoiselle?
human
Indeed, yes! They are the best of her very few friends. But--the Atlantic rolls between.
gpt
Any close-ter?
human
Some,
gpt
No, she said,