human
How can you undeceive her on one point without explaining the whole situation to her?
gpt
I-- began Guy,
human
I--
gpt
Exactly. Even you have no solution to offer. Even you have to acknowledge that the relief of knowing that she is not my wife might be offset by learning not only that we are quite in the dark as to who she is, but that at any moment she may be arrested on a charge of murder.
human
I don't know what to do!
gpt
Do nothing for the present.
human
Nothing! exclaimed Guy.
gpt
Nothing! And leave you to insinuate yourself into her--affections! She must be told the truth some day, but by that time she may have grown to--to--love you. Guy gulped painfully over the word.
human
You are a married man. That fact evidently seems 'too trifling' to be considered, but I fancy she will not regard it as casually as you do.
gpt
This is absurd,
human
You feel free to do as you please because you expect to get a divorce, but you have not got it yet, remember, and in the meantime your wife may bring a countersuit, naming Miss--Mrs. Thompkins as corespondent.
gpt
And in that case, continued Campbell,
human
You seem to forget that if I had not shielded her with my name, she would undoubtedly have been arrested on the train.
gpt
Oh, I don't doubt you meant well.
human
Thanks,
gpt
All I say is that you must not see her again till this mystery is cleared up. I didn't forget about the number of her apartment, but I wasn't going to help you to sneak in to her at all hours. Now, if you want to see her, you will have to go boldly up to the hotel and have yourself properly announced. And I don't think you will care about that.
human
I promised to see her. I shall not break my word.
gpt
I don't care a fig for your promises. You shan't see her as long as she believes you to be her husband.
human
I shall see her,
gpt
If you do, I warn you that I shall tell her the truth and risk the consequences. She shall not, if I can help it, be placed in a position where she will be forced to marry a man who has, after all, lived his life. She ought--
human
She ought, in other words, to be given the choice between my battered heart and your virgin affections. Is that it?
gpt
I mean----
human
Oh, you have made your meaning quite clear, I assure you! interrupted Cyril.
gpt
But what you have been saying is sheer nonsense. You have been calling me to account for things that have not happened, and blaming me for what I have not done. She is not being dragged through the divorce court, and I see no reason to suppose that she ever will be. I am not trying to force her to marry me, and can promise that I shall never do so. Far from taking advantage of the situation, I assure you my conduct has been most circumspect. Don't cross a bridge till you get to it, and don't accuse a man of being a cad just because-- Cyril paused abruptly and looked at Guy, and as he did so, his expression slowly relaxed till he finally smiled indulgently--