human
Demetrius, madame, he finally blundered, and recognised the blunder as the words left his mouth--
gpt
Demetrius is your friend.
human
Katinka's lover also, I understand.
gpt
And the Czar's enemy, retorted Aksakoff angrily.
human
Let us have all his qualifications at once, madame.
gpt
By all means. Enemy, friend, lover. Well?
human
It is very far from well, as you know, madame. I desire no Siberian felon for my son-in-law.
gpt
I never knew that M. Demetrius had been to Siberia.
human
He will go there yet--to his grave.
gpt
What an odd choice of a cemetery! said Leah, shrugging;
human
No! Yet report says----
gpt
I know what it says, and of course I deeply sympathise with you.
human
Madame!
gpt
Yes, yes; I comprehend your feelings. It is hard that your own daughter should defy you, especially as M. Demetrius is merely a doctor.
human
He is a prince in our country,
gpt
A felon also, I understood you to say.
human
Let him venture on French soil, and I shall certainly make him one,
gpt
Even if Katinka makes him your son-in-law?
human
That shall never be! He hesitated, then attempted a bear-hug.
gpt
I will speak plainly, madame----
human
About Katinka and her infatuation? Oh, certainly.
gpt
Demetrius does not love my daughter,
human
How fortunate for you, and disagreeable for her!
gpt
He loves an--an--an actress,
human
That would interest Katinka more than it does me, she assured him; then, affecting the innocence of ignorance,
gpt
May I ask why you chronicle small beer?
human
Demetrius is your intimate friend.
gpt
My husband's medical attendant,
human
If you remove him to that distance, I confess to an indiscretion. Shall we return?
gpt
Without admiring the Estrelles?
human
Madame, the excuse was obvious.
gpt
For what?
human
For the clearing up of misunderstandings. You are anxious--so you say--that Demetrius should cure your husband. My reason for this conversation is, to apologise for my intention to rob you of his very valuable services. If I can trap Demetrius--say in Paris--Lord James must content himself with an inferior doctor.
gpt
I comprehend; but why should you make use of the wrong word?
human
Misunderstanding? Then, when she nodded,
gpt
My ignorance of your language----
human
Or of my feelings? By this talk of Parisian traps and Siberian punishment, you assume that I am acquainted with the private affairs of M. Demetrius.
gpt
It is possible that I have made that mistake,
human
As a diplomatist you should never confess as much. It might be that I may take advantage of your--mistake, to inform M. Demetrius of his danger.
gpt
I foresaw that possibility, madame. As a dutiful wife, you naturally wish to keep so clever a doctor in attendance on your husband.
human
Of course; but a trip to Siberia would not improve Jim's health.
gpt
There is no need for the mountain to go to Mahomet, madame.
human
Pardon me if in this case I think otherwise.
gpt
I admit the reason, seeing that this particular mountain is married.
human
These parables are a trifle wearisome, M. Aksakoff. The air is chilly, and I wish to return to Lady Richardson. Would you mind telling me plainly, before we part, why you sought this interview?
gpt
Assuredly, madame. My daughter loves this man, who does not love her, and who, by reason of his crime and opinions, is not an eligible husband. You were with Katinka this afternoon, as you informed me, and she is now so cheerful that I suspect you must have delivered some message from Demetrius to so raise her spirits. Or it might be --he looked squarely at her, as he added,
human
No; your daughter had a letter from him, in which he stated that he was leaving Madeira for Jamaica. Go on, please.
gpt
Katinka had a letter? said Aksakoff, with an unpleasant look.
human
That, no doubt, accounts for her spirits. Were you Cupid's messenger, madame?
gpt
No; though I admit that I should like to see her happy.
human
She will never be happy with a man who does not love her. Demetrius will not come near me, and I cannot explain. Will you oblige me by taking a message?
gpt
Why should I?
human
For the sake of retaining him as Lord James's medical attendant.
gpt
As a wife, I will take your message. What is it?
human
Tell Demetrius that if he will give Katinka to understand that he will never marry her my gratitude will be stronger than my duty.
gpt
In other words, you will not arrest him.
human
So long as he remains in England.
gpt
Where he can't be arrested, laughed Lady Jim.
human
Well, your message shall be duly delivered. And I may as well confess, since we are committed to plain speaking, that M. Demetrius informed me why he had to leave Russia.
gpt
His confidence will render it easier for you to make a treaty between us, madame.
human
Possibly. But you will understand that I assume the rôle of peacemaker solely on my husband's account.
gpt
Madame, Aksakoff bent and raised her hand to kiss it;
human
One moment. You will give me your word that M. Demetrius will not be lured to Paris?
gpt
I give you my word, if the treaty is made, and Katinka is disabused of her infatuation.
human
Which forms part of the treaty, said Leah, lightly.
gpt
In the interests of Jim, I'll do my best; but should he go to Paris----
human
He will assuredly leave it for Siberia, which is much colder and not so amusing.
gpt
Then I must advise him to be naturalised in England.
human
It will be the act of a friend, madame. And also, you might advise him to beware of this actress.
gpt
Oh, I can't intrude my advice into his strictly private affairs.
human
If you wish your husband to be cured, it will be as well to do so, Aksakoff recommended.
gpt
Mademoiselle Ninette is not to be trusted.
human
Ninette? I have seen her--a very charming artiste.
gpt
But unscrupulous.
human
Not so much so, I hope, as to betray the man she loves.
gpt
A woman, madam, will do much for money.
human
How well you know the sex, monsieur!
gpt
I have had some experience, madame.
human
And have benefited so little that you cannot manage your daughter without my intervention.
gpt
I confess it. Let me amend my statement by saying that I have had many experiences and little experience.
human
That is a more correct way of putting it, said Leah, gravely;
gpt
We join issue, madame. The Uranian Aphrodite is not the divinity in this case, and Aphrodite Pandemos can be bought.
human
How classical and confusing! And the price?
gpt
Two thousand pounds,
human
You should reckon it in francs, seeing that Mademoiselle Ninette is French. Otherwise she will not understand.
gpt
The jingle of gold is a universal language, madame.
human
An agreeable one, at all events. I wish we had more opportunity of studying it. Well, M. Aksakoff, for Jim's sake, I shall see that M. Demetrius affords this harpy no opportunity of earning the money.
gpt
And you will pardon my mentioning the harpy's name?
human
We are a man and woman of the world, M. Aksakoff: there is no need to call spades shovels. I thank you for considering my husband. To lose the skill of M. Demetrius might result in his death.
gpt
I am happy to have been of service to you, madame, and of course, you can understand my paternal feelings.
human
Assuredly; I shall do my best to make your daughter see reason. A woman can talk to a woman of such things, you know.
gpt
When she is such a woman as you, madame, said Aksakoff, again bending over her hand;
human
Just one hour to catch the train,