human
You seem to have forgotten our engagement very easily, Johann!
gpt
Oh no. She reminded me of it; but of course she has the first claim.
human
Indeed!
gpt
I think you were right, Johann, and I'm thankful you had sufficient manly spirit,
human
And when are you to be married, Herr Lassen?
gpt
It is not yet definitely settled.
human
And your child?
gpt
There was a mistake there. She admitted afterwards that the child is neither hers nor mine.
human
Admitted that! exclaimed the Countess with more indignation than I thought she was capable of feeling.
gpt
Do you mean to tell us that she was brazen-faced enough to confess such a thing? She must be a regular baggage and you must be mad to think of marrying her! I never heard such a thing in all my life.
human
She wasn't exactly brazen-faced when she told me, Aunt Olga. I think she was rather affected by my offer; and as an honourable man----
gpt
Honourable fiddlesticks, Johann! Don't talk rubbish. She's an impostor, nothing else; and I shall go to my lawyer in the morning and tell him to inform the police.
human
Unless you want to get Johann into serious trouble, you won't do that, mother. You've often worried because I didn't wish to marry him, and I haven't told you the real reason; but you had better know it now. The woman's story about the sale of secret information is true. You may not remember it, Johann; but I have a couple of letters of yours in which you more than half admit it, and that it was the reason why you fled the country and never intended to come back.
gpt
Rosa! cried the dear old lady in deep distress.
human
Is that true, Johann?
gpt
Unfortunately, I can't say either yes or no, Aunt Olga.
human
I'll get the letters, said Rosa, and she fetched them and read the portions out to us.
gpt
You can see it's his handwriting;
human
I don't know the writing, of course, I said.
gpt
I don't believe I could even copy it. I'm in the pothook stage still.