human
Bill!
gpt
Clara Maria! exclaimed the so-called Cicero,
human
Well, I never! gasped the widow, who, womanlike, was the first to find her tongue.
gpt
Is it really you, Billy?--but I might have guessed it, from your writing. Yet it never entered my head! She stopped and grew suddenly furious.
human
My husband, you wretch!--have you killed him?
gpt
No, Clara Maria, no! I came here to give information about his poor body. I did not expect to find my sister--the celebrated Miss de Crespigny--in the person of Mrs. Warrender!
human
What is all this about? demanded Alan quietly.
gpt
Is this your brother, Mrs. Warrender?
human
To my shame, sir, I confess this--this creature --Mrs. Warrender brought out the word with a hiss--
gpt
Oh, Clara Maria, how can you----
human
Hold your tongue! interrupted the lady angrily.
gpt
You were always a drunkard and a scoundrel! Now you've come to blackmailing! Two hundred pounds from me, you wretch! Not one sixpence!
human
I have already, said her brother majestically,
gpt
cried Mr. Gramp in a soaring voice, and standing on tiptoe.
human
Is this what human nature is made of? The late Sir Isaac Newton was a prophet indeed when he made that remark.
gpt
Mountebank!
human
We were both mountebanks at one time, Mr. Thorold, he said, turning to Alan, who, in spite of his anxiety, was watching the scene with unconcealed amusement.
gpt
My sister was the celebrated Miss de Crespigny; I, the once noted actor, Vavasour Belgrave----
human
And his real name is Billy Spinks!
gpt
William Spinks, corrected Mr. Gramp, as it may be convenient to call him.
human
Billy is merely an endearing term to which, alas! your lips have long been strangers. But you needn't talk, said Cicero, becoming angry, and therewith a trifle vulgar;
gpt
And a very good name, too, retorted the lady.
human
Cut the scene short, Billy.
gpt
That is my advice also, put in Alan, who was growing weary.
human
I do not want to know any more about your relationship. That you are brother and sister is nothing to me.
gpt
I hope, Mr. Thorold, that you won't reveal my degraded connection in Heathton, cried Mrs. Warrender, much agitated.
human
It would ruin me. With great difficulty I attained a position by marrying my poor dear Julian, and I don't want to fall back into the mud where this worm writhes.
gpt
Be content, Mrs. Warrender; your secret is safe with me.
human
Denying her own flesh and blood!
gpt
Yes, I deny you, she cried, rising quickly and stretching out a denunciatory hand.
human
You were always a brute and a disgrace to me. Look at that creature, Mr. Thorold! He is my brother. Our parents were on the stage--barnstormers they were--and played in the provinces for bite and sup. They put us on the stage, and when thy died, left a little money to Billy there. He was to bring me up. How did he fulfil his trust? By making me work for him. As an actor, even in the meanest parts, he was a failure. I am not much of an actress myself, although I was well known as Miss de Crespigny, and billed all over London. It was my figure and my looks that did it. I appeared in burlesque ten or twelve years ago, and I had wealth at my feet.
gpt
I have heard of you,