human
I have not come to see you, Pretzel; my visit is to Katrine.
gpt
Ah, ah, he rejoined,
human
What do you want of me?
gpt
Katrine Loebeg, I said,
human
What did I tell you, Katrine? And here stand I, Pretzel, Gideon Wolf's best friend, the friend who is going one day to make him rich and in the opposite house lives Gideon himself. Oh, what bad people live here--what bad, bad people!
gpt
I have come with a fatherly intention, Katrine, I said,
human
First a kiss, and then a scratch, sneered Pretzel.
gpt
Think of old Anna loving you so dearly--she who said to you what she did about Gideon, who would not sleep in the same house with him, and who would not cook a meal for him for all the money that could be offered her! Dear me, dear me--what a benevolent, kind-hearted, backbiting old woman!
human
I ask you to come and live with me as my daughter, Katrine. I will protect you as a father; I will provide for you as a father. Inquire of any person in the town about my character--
gpt
Yes, yes, said Pretzel,
human
Then Gideon Wolf is not human, said Pretzel,
gpt
Will you do this?
human
No, I answered,
gpt
What do you say to that, Katrine? cried Pretzel.
human
Does not that show you something of his real meaning? He has abominable ideas in his head about you. He wants you as his daughter--oh yes, as his daughter! That is his pretence. It is infamous, infamous! If Gideon were here he would throw this old sinner from my door-step into the road. Katrine my child, I think I hear a window slamming down-stairs. Run and shut it, and see that all the doors are secure. We must protect ourselves against this wrong-doer.
gpt
How many years is it, Master Fink, he hissed,
human
And he poked his face, upon which there was really a diabolical expression, so close to Anna's that she jumped back, as if the evil one himself were attempting to seize her. Katrine now re-appeared, and Pretzel put his arm round her waist to protect her, and continued,
gpt
This scoundrel has been unbosoming himself to me while you were away, and has been gloating over his wicked intentions. You have heard his offer, and if you allow him to go on he will tell you, being the prince of liars, that if you do not accept it you will be ruined and brought to sorrow. He is not at all particular in what he says. Perhaps you wish to hear him.
human
I do not,
gpt
Remember, then, how he has treated Gideon Wolf, and give him his answer, Katrine.
human
You are a slanderer, she said;
gpt
Heaven pity you!
human
Do not take it too much to heart, Master Fink. You have done your duty.