human
You will, therefore, understand that my marriage with your daughter is out of the question.
gpt
Of course, assented Aksakoff, absently, and wondering why Lady Jim engaged herself to this exile.
human
Of course, he added more briskly,
gpt
I trust you will permit me to announce this engagement to my daughter.
human
Certainly. It will show her that----
gpt
That you are unworthy of her hand,
human
Quite so, Ivan Aksakoff, and I hope soon to congratulate the Countess Petrovitch.
gpt
You are too good, Constantine Demetrius.
human
In return for thus arranging your domestic affairs, continued the doctor, unmoved by the sarcasm,
gpt
I can and will.
human
My title, my money----
gpt
Both shall be restored. And of course, added Aksakoff, with a keen glance,
human
Dreams of youth--desires for the impossible. I am aware, he added bitterly,
gpt
Can you wonder at it? If one wheel refuses to fit in with another, the machine will not work. We are all parts of a mighty engine----
human
Which crushes the poor and the weak.
gpt
What matter, since you, Constantine Demetrius, are neither poor nor weak?
human
My sympathy----
gpt
A most dangerous word, current only in that Utopia you dreamed of. It is not in the Russian dictionary.
human
It will be, some day,
gpt
My friend --Aksakoff shook the ash from his cigarette--
human
I gladly would, rejoined the other, heartily;
gpt
There is always a woman. Ah, these dear ladies, how practical they are! In their hands we are wax, which they mould after the honey is squeezed out ; he laughed again, then resumed, business-like:
human
You will write to my daughter and place the truth of this engagement beyond question.
gpt
To-morrow, Ivan Aksakoff, when I am in London. And needless to say, I shall always profoundly respect Mademoiselle your daughter.
human
You mean the Countess Petrovitch.
gpt
If you can so far bend her to your ambition, retorted Demetrius.
human
You promise, then, to right me with the Czar?
gpt
You are already Prince Constantine Demetrius, rich, honoured, and--unsympathetic.