human
Madam, I began. And again,
gpt
Madam!
human
You see,
gpt
Yes, I fear I see; but I wish I did not. Can I not--may I not be mistaken?
human
No, it is true. There is no mistake.
gpt
What have you done? Why? _Why_?
human
Did you not always credit me with being the good friend of Mr. Pakenham years ago--did not all the city? Well, then I was _not_; but I _am_, now! I was England's agent only--_until last night_. Monsieur, you have come too soon, too late, too late. Ah, my God! my God! Last night I gave at last that consent. He comes now to claim, to exact, to take--possession--of me ... Ah, my God!
gpt
I can not, of course, understand you, Madam. _What_ is it? Tell me!
human
For three years England's minister besought me to be his, not England's, property. It was not true, what the town thought. It was not true in the case either of Yturrio. Intrigue--yes--I loved it. I intrigued with England and Mexico both, because it was in my nature; but no more than that. No matter what I once was in Europe, I was not here--not, as I said, until last night. Ah, Monsieur! Ah, Monsieur!
gpt
But _why_ then? Why _then_? What do you mean?
human
Because no other way sufficed. All this winter, here, alone, I have planned and thought about other means. Nothing would do. There was but the one way. Now you see why I did not go to Mr. Calhoun, why I kept my presence here secret.
gpt
But you saw Elisabeth?
human
Yes, long ago. My friend, you have won! You both have won, and I have lost. She loves you, and is worthy of you. You are worthy of each other, yes. I saw I had lost; and I told you I would pay my wager. I told you I would give you her--and Oregon! Well, then, that last was--hard. She choked.
gpt
That was--hard to do. She almost sobbed.
human
But I have--paid! Heart and soul ... and _body_ ... I have ... _paid_! Now, he comes ... for ... the _price_!
gpt
But then--but then! I expostulated.
human
What does this mean, that I see here? There was no need for this. Had you no friends among us? Why, though it meant war, I myself to-night would choke that beast Pakenham with my own hands!
gpt
No, you will not.
human
But did I not hear him say there was a key--_his_ key--to-night?
gpt
Yes, England once owned that key. Now, _he_ does. Yes, it is true. Since yesterday. Now, he comes ...
human
But, Madam--ah, how could you so disappoint my belief in you?
gpt
Because --she smiled bitterly--
human
But no cause could warrant this.
gpt
I was judge of that, was her response.
human
I saw her--Elisabeth--that girl. Then I saw what the future years meant for me. I tell you, I vowed with her, that night when I thought you two were wedded. I did more. I vowed myself to a new and wider world that night. Now, I have lost it. After all, seeing I could not now be a woman and be happy, I--Monsieur--I pass on to others, after this, not that torture of life, but that torturing _principle_ of which we so often spoke. Yes, I, even as I am; because by this--this act--this sacrifice--I can win you for her. And I can win that wider America which you have coveted; which I covet for you--which I covet _with_ you!
gpt
Now--now, I say--Pakenham the minister is sunk in Pakenham the man. He does as I demand--because he is a man. He signs what I demand because I am a woman. I say, to-night--but, see!