human
They are to you, Madame, an oppression, a weariness, a----
gpt
M. Jouffroy, I have never spoken to you about these things. I cannot see how you are in a position to judge.
human
Ah, but I know. Have I not heard _cette chère Madame Bertaux_ describe the life of an English village? And have I not seen----?
gpt
Seen what?
human
Jouffroy raised his hands to heaven.
gpt
Ha! then I understood, and I fled hither to save you.
human
Tell me, tell me quickly, Monsieur, has she fair hair and large grey eyes. Is she tall?
gpt
A lady, elegant, well-dressed, but, ah! a woman to destroy the soul of an artist merely by her presence. I told her that you had decided to remain in France, to adopt it as your country, for it was the country of your soul!
human
Good heavens!
gpt
I told her that your friends would not let you go back to England, to the land of fogs, the land of the _bourgeois_. The lady seemed astonished, even indignant, continued Jouffroy, waving his hands excitedly,