human
Mr. Clare, said the Major, at last,
gpt
I never told a lie before,
human
Upon my soul, then, you did it uncommonly well. You did it so well I almost believed you. No wonder that Severn did.
gpt
In God's name, sir, why don't you call me a blackguard? I've done a beastly act!
human
O, come, said the Major,
gpt
If you had, I would have given you the lie, square in your teeth.
human
Would you, indeed? It's very fortunate, then, I held my tongue. If you will have it so, I won't deny that your little improvisation sounded very ugly. I'm devilish glad I didn't make it, if you come to that.
gpt
I am glad to hear that it did sound ugly, he said.
human
To me, it seemed beautiful, holy, and just. For the space of a moment, it seemed absolutely right that I should say what I did. But you saw the lie in its horrid nakedness, and yet you let it pass. You have no excuse.
gpt
I beg your pardon. You are immensely ingenious, but you are immensely wrong. Are you going to make out that I am the guilty party? Upon my word, you're a cool hand. I _have_ an excuse. I have the excuse of being interested in Miss Whittaker's remaining unengaged.
human
So I suppose. But you don't love her. Otherwise--
gpt
Mr. Clare, said he,
human
I have no wish to talk metaphysics over this matter. You had better say no more. I know that your feelings are not of an enviable kind, and I am therefore prepared to be good-natured with you. But you must be civil yourself. You have done a shabby deed; you are ashamed of it, and you wish to shift the responsibility upon me, which is more shabby still. My advice is, that you behave like a man of spirit, and swallow your apprehensions. I trust that you are not going to make a fool of yourself by any apology or retraction in any quarter. As for its having seemed holy and just to do what you did, that is mere bosh. A lie is a lie, and as such is often excusable. As anything else,--as a thing beautiful, holy, or just,--it's quite inexcusable. Yours was a lie to you, and a lie to me. It serves me, and I accept it. I suppose you understand me. I adopt it. You don't suppose it was because I was frightened by those big black eyes of yours that I held my tongue. As for my loving or not loving Miss Whittaker, I have no report to make to you about it. I will simply say that I intend, if possible, to marry her.
gpt
She'll not have you. She'll never marry a cold-blooded rascal.
human
I think she'll prefer him to a hot-blooded one. Do you want to pick a quarrel with me? Do you want to make me lose my temper? I shall refuse you that satisfaction. You have been a coward, and you want to frighten some one before you go to bed to make up for it. Strike me, and I'll strike you in self-defence, but I'm not going to mind your talk. Have you anything to say? No? Well, then, good evening.