human
It seems to me you take it too tragically to begin with--
gpt
It isn't to begin with. I saw there was a screw loose from the first. And since then some one has told me that she was--half in love with him, by Jove!--as it was.
human
That must have been Cousin Henry. He'd have a motive in thinking so--not so much to deceive you as to deceive himself. But if it's any comfort to you to know it, I've talked to them both. I suppose they spoke to me confidentially, and I haven't felt justified in betraying them. But rather than see you suffer--
gpt
Oh, I say! It isn't suffering, you know. That is, it isn't--
human
Oh, I know what it is. You don't have to explain. But I'll tell you. I asked Peter--or practically asked him--some time ago--if he was in love with her--and he said he wasn't.
gpt
Did he, by Jove?
human
And when I told her that--the other day--she said--
gpt
Yes? Yes? She said--?
human
She didn't put it in so many words--but she gave me to understand--or _tried_ to give me to understand--that it was a relief to her--because, in that case, she wasn't obliged to have him on her mind. A woman _has_ those things on her mind, you know, about one man when she loves another.
gpt
I say! You're a good pal. I shall never forget it.
human
Oh, it's nothing--
gpt
You see, he tried to explain,
human
You mean, if he does something fine, you must do something finer.
gpt
I can't go on swallowing his beastly favors, don't you see? And hang it all! if he is--if he _is_ my--my rival--he must have a show.
human
And how are you going to give him a show if he won't take it?
gpt
That's your beastly America, where everything goes by freaks--where everything is queer and inconsequent and tortuous, and you can't pin any one down.
human
It seems to me, on the contrary, that you have every one pinned down. You've got everything your own way, and yet you aren't satisfied. Peter has taken himself off; old Cousin Vic has paid the debts; and Olivia is ready to go to church and marry you on the first convenient day. What more can you ask?
gpt
That's what _she_ said, by Jove!--the old Marquise. She said the question would never be raised unless I raised it.
human
Eh, bien? as she'd say herself.
gpt
Eh, bien, there is something else; and, he added, tapping his forehead sharply,
human
I'll be hanged if I know what it is.