gpt
Narration:  —A week later, it was determined that the slaver was indeed going to the House of Argyle. 5 Bean Argyle proved surprisingly willing to invite Crusch to his home. His eagerness made her suspect a trap at first, but when she arrived, he showed her inside, and her concern gradually eased. The house was still; there was no sense that an armed party was hiding anywhere within. In fact, there was hardly any sign anyone else was around at all.
human
Crusch:  “I heard rumors you had to release your servants. It seems they were true.”
gpt
Bean:  “Yes, they were. I’m simply not in a position to indulge in any kind of excess anymore. The only people here now are myself, my wife, and one maid who stayed with us out of personal affection.” He led her down the hall.
human
Narration:  Bean Argyle was Ferris’s father, and the man at the center of the doubts about the House of Argyle. The fact that Bean himself, and not the maid, had greeted Crusch at the door lent credibility to his claims of being shorthanded.
gpt
Bean:  “I’m sorry that my wife is unable to greet you. She’s sick in bed. And my maid is attending to another visitor, so I’m left to compound my rudeness by welcoming you by myself.”
human
Crusch:  “I don’t mind. It’s my fault for showing up so suddenly. But this visit had to be abrupt, and for that, I have no intention of apologizing.”
gpt
Bean:  “Oh-ho…” Bean stopped and looked back at this spontaneous remark.
human
Narration:  Crusch was tall for a woman, but he was a head taller than her. The most distinctive feature of his face was the lines that creased it, nothing like Ferris’s sweetness. Perhaps the son had inherited his girlish face from his mother. Crusch only dimly recalled what Bean’s wife looked like, but it seemed logical to her.
gpt
Crusch:  “Bean Argyle… You’ve grown thin. You look smaller than when I saw you last.”
human
Bean:  “When a man has as many troubles as I do…”
gpt
Narration:  It was only when she went back to her memories that Crusch realized how much the man in front of her had changed. Bean had once had a fine beard and had seemed a good man, but now there was no trace of resemblance to his former bearing. His expression was dark, and patches of white hair stood out on his head and chin. The last nine years had not been kind to him.
human
Crusch:  “How is Felix?"