human
Have you--have you heard anything about us lately?
gpt
Yes, he answered abruptly, his manner changing.
human
I hear that Grisel has a string of pearls, and is growing very fond of her aged suitor.
gpt
Well, then, her gay young spark. It doesn't really matter, and she's not really happy, and I know it, and so do you.
human
Oh, Oliver, please don't make me unhappy about that. Things are bad enough without Grisel's coming to grief.
gpt
What do you mean--things are bad enough? What's happened? I'm not going to worry you. I'm sorry----
human
It's about--it's about Mr. Walbridge. I don't quite know how to tell you.
gpt
Oh, no, he's not here. He went away yesterday morning.
human
Gone away? Good heavens! Has he been losing money?
gpt
No; he has no money, she answered simply.
human
It's much worse than that. It's--it's about a lady.
gpt
By golly! Is it, though? Then I'll bet it's that over-ripe woman who sat next him at dinner--the painter's wife.
human
Yes, it is. They have fallen in love with each other.
gpt
No! They can't have. Why, bless me, he's an old man--I beg your pardon. But he isn't _young_, is he?
human
That doesn't matter. He's fallen in love with her and Mr. Crichell's found out.
gpt
My hat! The man with the nasty fingers.
human
Yes. And they're all after me--not a soul stands up for me, Oliver. So that's why I sent for you. I thought perhaps you would.
gpt
Of course I will. You want someone to see you through divorcing him. Well, I'm your boy. Have you got a solicitor? And--excuse me speaking so plainly--have you got proofs?
human
Oh, my dear, you've got it all wrong. It's the other way about. It's they that want me to divorce him and I--I won't.
gpt
Oh, I see, he said quietly.
human
I didn't understand.