human
The Clock in the Sky, and both alike hungry to know how much each had been told about the other. Calmly they ignored all earlier encounter and entered into acquaintance on the common ground of the poetry of the narrow region of decay in which this lovely home lay hid
gpt
Ah, not quite lost yet,
human
No, he conceded,
gpt
Not while this cluster of shops beneath us is kept by those who now keep them.
human
My faith! the hostess broke in,
gpt
Ask me, Chester said, as if for mademoiselle's rescue;
human
I discovered them only last week.
gpt
And then also, quietly said Aline,
human
May I ask you something?
gpt
You need not. You would ask if I knew you had discovered them--M. Castanado and the rest.
human
And you would answer?
gpt
That I knew they had discovered you.
human
Discovered, you mean, my spiritual substance?
gpt
Yes, your spiritual substance. That's a capital expression, Mr. Chester, your 'spiritual substance.' I must add that to my English.
human
Your English is wonderfully correct. May I ask something else?
gpt
I can answer without. Yes, I know where you're going to-morrow and for what; to read that old manuscript. Mr. Chester, that other story--of my _grand'mére_, 'Maud'; how did you like that?
human
It left me in love with your _grand'mére_.
gpt
Notwithstanding she became what they used to call--you know the word.
human
Yes, 'nigger-stealer.' How did you ever add that to your English?
gpt
My father _was_ one. Right here in Royal Street. Hotel St. Louis. Else he might never have married my--that's too long to tell here.
human
May I not hear it soon, at your home?
gpt
Assuredly. Sooner or later. My aunts they are born raconteurs.
human
Oh! your aunts. Hem! Do you know? I had an uncle who once was your grandfather's sort of robber, though a Southerner born and bred.
gpt
Yes, Ovide's wife told me. Will you permit me a question?
human
No, laughed Chester,
gpt
N-no, she said.
human
Ah, no! I couldn't bear that responsibility! Listen; Mr. Smith is going to tell a war story of the city.
gpt
I want you to talk with my wife,
human
To-morrow when you're at the Castanados' to read, so privately, would you be willing for Mme. De l'Isle to be there--just madame alone?
gpt
I'd be honored! he said.
human
They can modify the privacy as they please. Oh, but men are dull! There he had to give place to M. Prieur and presently accepted some kind of social invitation, seeing no way out of it, from the Smiths. So ended the evening. Mlle. Chapdelaine was taken to her home,
gpt
They are juz' arround in Bourbon Street, those Chapdelaines, said the De l'Isles to Chester, last to go.
human
Y'ought to see their li'l' flower-garden. Like those two aunt' that maintain it, 'tis unique. Y'ought to see that--and them.
gpt
I have mademoiselle's permission,
human
Ah, well, then!--ha, ha! The pair exchanged a smile which seemed to the parting guest to say:
gpt
After all he's not so utterly deficient!
human
Les Trois Mousquetaires,
gpt
In the firs' place, one said--though the best place he could seize was the seventeenth--
human
We got to be 'wise like snake' an' innocent like pigeon'!'
gpt
Precizely! Every publisher approach' mus' know he's bidding agains' every other! Maybe they are honess men, and _if_ so they'll be rij-oice'!
human
And sec'--and sec'--and secon' thing--if not firs'--is guarantee! They mus' pay so much profit in advance. Else it be better to publish without a publisher, and with advertisement' front and back! Tiffany, Royal Baking-Powder, Ivory Soap it Float'! Ten thousand dolla' the page that _Ladies' 'Ome Journal_ get', and if we get even ten dolla' the page--I know a man what make that way three hundred dolla'!
gpt
He make that net or gross?
human
Ah! I think, not counting his time _sol_-iciting those advertisement', he make it _nearly_ net.
gpt
How much of a book, he asked Mme. Castanado,
human
Tha'z too wide?
gpt
It isn't long enough to make a book. To do that would take--oh--seven times as much.
human
Ah! Madame's voice grew in sweetness as it rose:
gpt
So much the better! So much the more room for those advertisement'!--and picture'!
human
And portrait of mademoiselle!
gpt
All the same, what is the matter to make it a pamphlet?
human
No, then you compete aggains' those magazine'. But if you permit one of those magazine' to buy it you get the advantage of all the picture' in the whole magazine.
gpt
Ah! several demurred,
human
I have an idea--
gpt
Frien'--our counsel.
human
I have a conviction that we should first offer this to a magazine--through--yes, of course, through some influential friend. If one doesn't want it another may----
gpt
Ho! they will all want it! That was not written laz' night! 'Tis fivty year' old; they cannot rif-use that!
human
However, Chester persisted,
gpt
Frien's, Castanado pleaded,
human
I should advise that we gather together as many such old narratives as we can find, especially such as can be related to one another----
gpt
They need not be ril-ated! cried Dubroca.
human
Royal Street! Scipion retorted.
gpt
Royal Street is pave' with old narration'!
human
Already, said Castanado,
gpt
Yes, Chester put in,
human
Proof! proclaimed Mme. Alexandre,
gpt
At the same time, Chester responded, rising and addressing the chair, his hostess,
human
Marcel, the hostess cried in French,
gpt
I will go with you, Mme. Alexandra proposed,
human
Tis but a step, said Mme. De l'Isle,
gpt
One troub', Dubroca said,
human
Ho! Beloiseau rejoined,
gpt
Well, Mme. Castanado chanted,