human
We may settle all liabilities for £500. Nothing to Peschiera, who is enormously rich. _Entre nous_, I doubt his assurance that he is without ready money. It may be so, but--
gpt
You, my dear Hazeldean? What are you talking about? To be sure, you could raise twice as much with a stroke of your pen, and throw your own debts into the bargain. But--to be so generous to an acquaintance!
human
Acquaintance--Madame di Negra!--the height of my ambition is to claim her as my wife!
gpt
And these debts don't startle you?
human
If a man loves, answered Frank, simply,
gpt
he added, after a pause,
human
On the Casino property.
gpt
No other way?
human
Of course not. But I know your scruples; let us see if they can be conciliated. You would marry Madame di Negra; she will have £20,000 on her wedding-day. Why not arrange that, out of this sum, your anticipative charge on the Casino property be paid at once? Thus, in truth, it will be but for a few weeks that the charge will exist. The bond will remain locked in my desk--it can never come to your father's knowledge, nor wound his feelings. And when, you marry (if you will but be prudent in the meanwhile), you will not owe a debt in the world.
gpt
Mr. Hazeldean, I asked you to stay and aid us by your counsel; I see now that counsel is unavailing. This blow on our house must fall! I thank you, Sir--I thank you. Farewell. Levy, come with me to my poor sister, and prepare her for the worst.
human
Count, said Frank,
gpt
No--no! exclaimed Peschiera.
human
How can you suppose that I will hear of such a proposition? Your youth and benevolence mislead and blind you. Impossible, sir--impossible! Why, even if I had no pride, no delicacy of my own, my sister's fair fame--
gpt
Would suffer indeed, interrupted Levy,
human
Ha!--is this indeed so? You are a suitor for my sister's hand, Mr. Hazeldean?
gpt
But not at this moment--not to owe her hand to the compulsion of gratitude,
human
Gratitude! And you do not know her heart, then? Do not know-- the Count interrupted himself, and went on after a pause.
gpt
Mr. Hazeldean, I need not say, that we rank among the first houses in Europe. My pride led me formerly into the error, of disposing of my sister's hand to one whom she did not love--merely because in rank he was her equal. I will not again commit such an error, nor would Beatrice again obey me if I sought to constrain her. Where she marries, there she will love. If, indeed, she accept you, as I believe she will, it will be from affection solely. If she does, I can not scruple to accept this loan--a loan from a brother-in-law--loan to me, and not charged against her fortune! _That_, sir (turning to Levy, with his grand air), you will take care to arrange. If she do not accept you, Mr. Hazeldean, the loan, I repeat it, is not to be thought of. Pardon me, if I leave you. This, one way or other, must be decided at once.
human
If, said Levy, in the tone of a mere man of business--