human
Well, now, Alicia, my dear, I remarked when I had satisfied myself that no detail of importance had escaped me in my perusal of the printed account of our affair--
gpt
said I.
human
I feel it incumbent to be quite sure that you know what you are saying when you announce your intention of linking your life with that of this wild young Italian--always provided that the gallows does not get him before you do. Can't you reconcile yourself to the idea that he is a thief, no matter how titled, and that therefore he is no match for an honest American girl?
gpt
Oh, cut the moralizing, Free! interrupted Peaches.
human
I am in love with him, I tell you. And I have sufficient faith in my own integrity to believe that this wouldn't be true if he really was the yellow dog everybody seems bent on trying to make him out. Now I've got a hunch--a mighty straight hunch that he is O. K. There's more to this than we know. Maybe the old picture belonged to his great-grandmother or something, and he's only taking it back. How do you know he isn't doing just that very thing?
gpt
But the Scarpia panels didn't belong to his grandmother,
human
But they haven't got the goods on him for those other deals, she retorted.
gpt
And if they had, I'd still be crazy about him. Freedom, this is a question of the rest of my life. You've got to take my side.
human
But what are you--we going to do? I pleaded, bewildered by her intensity.
gpt
And what is all this nonsense about our being locked in these rooms?
human
You just try to get out and see if it's nonsense, replied Peaches.
gpt
You were asleep when they locked me in, and as there is no lock on the doors between our rooms they locked you too. I wouldn't let them disturb you, not only because you were so tired but because I knew damn well that if I let you out I wouldn't get this chance to talk to you.
human
Well, this is outrageous! I exclaimed, rising in good earnest this time.
gpt
We shall see whether your father can imprison two adult women in a free country to suit his whim! I shall make my toilet at once and then we shall see what we shall see!
human
Better hurry up then! replied Peaches.
gpt
Because they--he and Mark--are going to the city on the twelve-o'clock train. Don't you remember why we came home early last night?
human
Now look here, you flighty young thing! she warned.
gpt
Don't do anything rash! Remember, you are the only person I have to depend on for help. Don't go get yourself kept away from me now!
human
I must and shall interview your father, I protested.
gpt
But perhaps if you would be kind enough to give me an idea of what you intend doing I shall be in a better position to be of assistance.
human
I'm going to leave this house before another twenty-four hours are over, she declared firmly.
gpt
If you can persuade pa to let me go like a human, and come along with me, so much the better. If not, I'll have to go some other way that may not be as agreeable to him in the long run.
human
Why not let me tell him about that terrible performance of Mr. Markheim's? I suggested.
gpt
That will be sufficient, or I mistake your father greatly.
human
Sure it would be sufficient, said Peaches.
gpt
But then I'd have to give myself away pretty badly, wouldn't I? And there might be a roughhouse. Pa is a dead shot and I'd rather get him out of shooting distance before I break the information to him. At present he just about thinks I'm crazy in the head.
human
Well, I'll do what I can to persuade him that this is the twentieth century and not the middle ages! I responded.
gpt
This indignity certainly cannot be allowed to continue. But suppose you--we do get away from here to-day, what then? How do you propose to find a thief that the police will have a hard time discovering?
human
I don't propose, said Peaches.
gpt
I intend. That's a whole lot stronger. How, I haven't the remotest idea. But it's plain enough I can't do anything while they've got me cooped up like a marketable yearling, can I? Let's get out of this, that's the first thing to accomplish.
human
Very well,