human
Are you quite determined to show me no mercy?
gpt
Hear him! he cried;
human
Well, then, I said, and I threw myself, quite heart-broken, into a chair,
gpt
It is twelve o'clock now,
human
Nay, I replied, looking round at my clocks, which were ticking merrily away,
gpt
By my watch, said Pretzel, pulling it out of his pocket,
human
Your watch is wrong, I said;
gpt
I say nothing to that, said Pretzel, eagerly watching the second hands,
human
Twenty-two times I have regulated it, I said,
gpt
One minute gone, said Pretzel;
human
Your watch is two hours fast; how it came so Heaven only knows. You cannot demand your money till twelve o'clock by the right time.
gpt
You are wrong. The bond says twelve o'clock by my watch. It does not stipulate that my watch shall keep right time. Read the words for yourself. You stand by the bond, you know, to the letter--the exact words you spoke to me. Another minute gone; three minutes to twelve. I demand my money, my three thousand florins!
human
But, Pretzel, I implored,
gpt
Oh no, he cried,
human
I will not make a beggar of you--I will not cast you into the streets! I have so much reason to love you, have I not? As for your ruin, you have brought it on yourself. This is your signature, not mine. It is your honesty that is at stake, not mine. The villainous old usurer, the devil that is not so black as he is painted, wants only his rights--nothing more. Two minutes to twelve; another minute gone. I demand my money, my three thousand florins!
gpt
Bring me writing materials, I said to my friend, in a despairing tone,
human
I will accept no order on the bank, said, Pretzel,
gpt
You insist upon it, Pretzel?
human
Yes, I insist upon it. Another minute gone; one minute to twelve.
gpt
What must be, must be,
human
There is your money, I said,
gpt
You forced your money upon me, I said,
human
You do not require me any longer,