human
I ask, because I should have thought they _must_ have had some suspicion of it, he said.
gpt
People here don't _say_ anything to me, of course, but I'm sure they know. There's a sort of bed-side manner about them; you notice these things, if you're blind; it's as if you were calling on a fellow in hospital, when he's had his leg off, and you're being awfully bright and not seeing any difference.... Is it being discussed in London?
human
I'm afraid it is.
gpt
What do they say?
human
That she's living with Grayle and that you're going to divorce her.
gpt
H'm. The first part's no longer true, the second part isn't true yet. Stornaway, you've been uncommon kind to me; d'you feel disposed to throw good money after bad and help me a bit more? We've been discussing what's the _best_ thing to do and how we ought to treat Grayle and that sort of thing, but so far we haven't taken Sonia into account much. I want you to find her for me. Do anything you like and, when you've found her, discuss with her what _she_ wants done. I'll--generally speaking, you may tell her I'll do anything. If I drop the petition now and some time later on she wants to be free again,--I don't like it, but I suppose it can be managed; these things have been done before.... As for Grayle---- He shook his head wearily.
human
I feel our tariff of punishment in this world is so inadequate. You can hang a man who commits a murder, but you can't hang him twice, when he murders two people. He's broken up our two lives pretty much,--and I dare say we weren't the first; if I could make him suffer as much as I'd suffered through him, we still couldn't cry 'quits.' If he loved Sonia--God in Heaven! we all make mistakes! Think how ridiculously _few_ people we have to choose from before we marry! We may _think_ it's the real thing and afterwards find we were wrong; I was prepared to think that with them, and if she was going to be happier with him.... He stopped abruptly and gripped my arm with fingers of steel.
gpt
Do you honestly think he behaved like this, because he was afraid of having his prospects injured by the scandal?
human
That's Bertrand's view, I answered.
gpt
He's a very fair ruffian, you know. He would always have an intrigue with a woman, if he thought there was anything to be got out of it; it doesn't require a great stretch of imagination to assume the converse.
human
If that's true, we _can't_ leave it where it is, he sighed.
gpt
Grayle can't have it both ways. If he doesn't resign his seat in a week, I shall go on with the proceedings.
human
But if you decide to go on in any event?
gpt
Well, he's no worse off. He'll be in private life then with no political career to bother about.
human
And if he refuses and you find you can't enforce the threat? I mean, if your wife asks you not to?
gpt
I shall find some other way of breaking him. This is not a time for thinking about niceties of law.
human
He's not the man to surrender easily,
gpt
I don't know that I am, he answered, and the muscles of his cheeks twitched.
human
Well, my solicitors are in communication with his----
gpt
But _if_ he refuses to be bluffed?
human
We'll try some other means, he repeated.
gpt
Will you be kind enough to convey my message--you're sure to see him at the House----
human
We're at some pains to avoid each other,
gpt
But you could meet him for my sake--just to give him the message?