human
Certainly, Mr. Moss. Was not the girl there to show you up?
gpt
No doubt she was. But such ceremony between us is hardly necessary.
human
I should prefer to be warned of the coming of my master. I will see to that in future. Such little ceremonies do have their uses.
gpt
Shall I go down and make her say that I am here, and then come up again?
human
It shall not be necessary, but you take a chair and begin! Then Mr. Moss considered how he had better do so. He knew well that the girl would not answer kindly to such a question as he was desirous of asking. And it might be that she would be very uncivil. He was by no means a coward, but he had a vivid recollection of the gleam of her dagger. He smiled, and she looked at him more suspiciously because of his smile. He was sitting on a sofa opposite to her as she sat on a music-stool which she had turned round, so as to face him, and he fancied that he could see her right hand hide itself among the folds of her dress.
gpt
Is it about the theatre?
human
Well, it is;--and yet it isn't.
gpt
I wish it were something about the theatre. It always seems to come more natural between you and me.
human
I want you to tell me what you did at last about Lord Castlewell's money.
gpt
Why am I to tell you what I did?
human
For friendship.
gpt
I do not feel any.
human
That's an uncivil word to say, mademoiselle.
gpt
But it's true. You have no business to ask me about the lord's money, and I won't be questioned.
human
It will be so deleterious to you if you accept it.
gpt
I can take care of myself, she said, jumping off the chair.
human
I shall have left this place now in another month, and shall utterly disregard the words which anyone at your theatre may say of me. I shall not tell you whether the lord has lent me money or not.
gpt
I know he has.
human
Very well. Then leave the room. Knowing as you do that I am living here with my own father, your interference is grossly impertinent.
gpt
Your father is not going with you, I am afraid. She rushed at the bell and pulled it till the bell rope came down from the wire, but nobody answered the bell.
human
Can it be possible that you should not be anxious to begin your new career under respectable auspices?
gpt
I will not stand this. Leave the room, sir. This apartment is my own.
human
Miss O'Mahony, you see my hand; with this I am ready to offer at once to place you in a position in which the world would look up to you.
gpt
You have done so before, Mr. Moss, and your doing so again is an insult. It would not be done to any young lady unless she were on the stage, and were thought on that account to be open to any man about the theatre to say what he pleased to her.
human
Any gentleman is at liberty to make any lady an offer.
gpt
I have answered it. Now leave the room.
human
I cannot do so until I have heard that you have not taken money from this reprobate.
gpt
Your servant told me that Mr. Moss was here, and therefore I walked up at once,
human
I am so much obliged to you, said Rachel.
gpt
Oh Lord Castlewell! I am so much obliged to you. He tells me in the first place that you are a reprobate.
human
Never mind me,
gpt
I don't mind what he says of you. He declares that my character will be gone for ever because you have lent my father some money.
human
So it will,
gpt
And how if she had accepted your offer?
human
No one would have thought of it. Come, my lord, you know the difference. I am anxious only to save her.
gpt
It is to her father I have lent the money, who explained to me the somewhat cruel treatment he had received at the hands of the police. I think you are making an ass of yourself, Mr. Moss.
human
Very well, my lord; very well, said Mr. Moss.
gpt
All the world no doubt will know that you have lent the money to the Irish Landleaguer because of your political sympathy with him, and will not think for a minute that you have been attracted by our pretty young friend here. It will not suspect that it is she who has paid for the loan!
human
Mr. Moss, you are a brute,
gpt
Can't he be turned out of the room?
human
Well, yes; it is possible,
gpt
It shall not be necessary, said Mahomet M. M.
human
You could not get me out, but there would be a terrible row in the house, which could not fail to be disagreeable to Miss O'Mahony. I leave her in your hands, and I do not think I could possibly leave her in worse. I have wished to make her an honest woman; what you want of her you can explain to herself.