human
Mr. Almer, he said,
gpt
I thank you, said the Advocate, with a courteous inclination of his head.
human
When did you last see Mr. Almer?
gpt
He called upon me this day three weeks--for a few minutes only, and only concerning your business.
human
He is always thoughtful and considerate. I suppose he was on his road to Paris when he called upon you.
gpt
No; he had no intention of going to Paris. I believe he had been for some time in the neighbourhood of Geneva before he favoured me with a visit. He is still here.
human
Here!
gpt
At least in Switzerland.
human
In what part?
gpt
I cannot inform you, but from the remarks he let fall, I should say in the mountains, where tourists are not likely to penetrate. He paused a moment before he continued:
human
Mr. Almer spoke of you, in terms it was pleasant to hear, as his closest, dearest friend.
gpt
We are friends in the truest sense of the word.
human
Then I may speak freely to you. During the time he was with me I was impressed by an unusual strangeness in him. He was restless and ill at ease; his manner denoted that he was either dissatisfied with himself or was under some evil influence. I expressed my surprise to him that he had been for some time in this neighbourhood without calling upon me, but he did not offer any explanation of his neglect. He told me, however, that he was tired of the light, the gaiety, and the bustle of cities, and that it was his intention to seek some solitude to endeavour to rid himself of a terror which had taken possession of him. No sooner had he made this strange declaration than he strove, in hurried words, to make light of it, evidently anxious that it should leave no impression upon my mind. I need scarcely say he did not succeed. I have frequently thought of that declaration and of Christian Almer in connection with it.
gpt
Mr. Almer is given to fantastic expression. If you knew him as well as I do you would be aware that he is prone to magnify trifles, and likely to raise ghosts of the conscience for the mere pleasure of laying them. His nature is of that order which suffers keenly, but I am not disposed on that account to pity him. There are men who would be most unhappy unless they suffered.
human
My dear sir, said Jacob Hartrich,
gpt
I have known Christian Almer since he was a child. I knew his father, a gentleman of great attainments, and his mother, a refined and exquisitely beautiful woman. His child-life probably made a sad impression upon him, but he has mixed with the world, and there is a bridge of twenty years between then and now. A great change has taken place in him, and not for the better. There is certainly something on his mind.
human
There is something on most men's minds. I have remarked no change in Mr. Almer to cause me uneasiness. He is the same high-minded gentleman I have ever known him to be. He is exquisitely sensitive, responsive to the lightest touch; those who are imbued with such qualities suffer keenly and enjoy keenly.
gpt
The thought occurred to me that he might have sustained a monetary loss, but I dismissed it.
human
A monetary loss would rather exalt than depress him. He is rich--it would have been a great happiness for him if he had been poor. What are termed misfortunes are sometimes real blessings; many fine natures are made to halt on their way by worldly prosperity. Had Christian Almer been born in the lower classes he would have found a worthy occupation; he would have made a name for himself, and in all probability would have won a wife--who would have idolised him. He is a man whom a woman might worship.
gpt
You have given me a clue, said Jacob Hartrich;
human
I think not; had he met with such a disappointment I should most surely have heard of it from his own lips.