human
He'll want a few thousands, of course, she said mendaciously;
gpt
Hum, muttered Jim, suspiciously.
human
I thought he'd want something more than money.
gpt
I am an honest woman, Jim, she said haughtily,
human
Seems to me you do.
gpt
Only to pass away the time. I stop short when----
human
When their hearts are broken, growled her husband.
gpt
Upon my soul, Leah, I'm straighter than you are.
human
I doubt that, since you swear by what you haven't got.
gpt
I've not been a bad sort of husband to you, Leah.
human
I have seen so little of you that it is rather difficult for me to give an opinion, she said, resting her elbow on the mantelpiece.
gpt
Mrs. Berring may be in a better position to judge of your virtues.
human
It's a lie, he growled hoarsely.
gpt
I never married her.
human
Married who?
gpt
The lady you talk about.
human
The lady Mr. Askew talked about, you mean. I merely mention her name.
gpt
It is not her name. She is Lola Fajardo.
human
Of the Estancia, San Jago. So Mr. Askew explained.
gpt
Oh, if you're goin' to make a row----
human
Do I ever make rows?
gpt
You don't care enough about me to raise Cain, said Jim, rather sorry for himself.
human
I swear I'd be a different man, if you were a different woman.
gpt
Every husband in the divorce court witness-box makes the same excuse. Sit down, Jim, and let us talk over the matter quietly. Your infidelities have long since converted us from man and wife into a business firm to earn money.
human
But, Leah, I swear----
gpt
By that soul you know nothing about? she flashed out contemptuously.
human
Talk sense, if you are capable of doing so. You have been trying to dodge this explanation ever since you met Mr. Askew last night, in the smoking-room. But now that we've stumbled on an opening, perhaps you will explain.
gpt
Explain what?
human
All that Mr. Askew did _not_ tell me.
gpt
Oh, he's been makin' somethin' out of nothin', the silly ass, protested Jim, sitting down and handling the poker with a fervent wish that he could use it on the sailor's head.
human
I met Señorita Fajardo at Lima, and later at Buenos Ayres. Her brother asked me out to their estancia in the camp of Argentina, near Rosario, and I stopped there for a month. Bit of luck came my way, an' I pulled her from under a beastly mustang, that would have kicked the life out of her. She took a fancy to me, 'cause I saved her life.
gpt
Is that all?
human
Well, I went again to San Jago, last year----
gpt
Your third visit to South America since our marriage.
human
Yes, said Jim, sullenly;
gpt
Oh, don't apologise. Lola is a pretty name.
human
An' she's a pretty woman, an' I'm flesh an' blood, cried Jim, getting up to work himself into a rage.
gpt
I met her durin' my second visit, an' went again to the estancia on my third. It was no use luggin' a title round, for these mouldy hotel-keepers always make a chap pay for havin' a handle to his name, so I called myself Berring--James Berring.
human
James Berring, bachelor.
gpt
Bachelor, certainly. I haven't married her, and if Askew says I have, he's a liar.
human
And assuredly a marplot, said Leah, dryly,
gpt
So she does.
human
And you love her?
gpt
Oh, go on--go on! Kick a chap when he's down!
human
If I had intended to kick, you would have been black and blue by now, Mr. James Berring. But you needn't flatter yourself that my feelings are hurt in any way. You're not worth it.
gpt
Other women think differently.
human
Lola Fajardo, for instance.
gpt
Well, I can't help that, can I? If you'd been a different sort of woman, I'd have----
human
You said that before. Had we not better get to business?
gpt
What business?
human
The insurance business. I don't care for you, and you show very plainly that you don't care for me. It is useless for us to struggle together like a couple of ill-matched dogs in leash. Give me fifteen thousand of this money, and then you can marry your Lola woman.
gpt
You seem jolly anxious to get rid of me.
human
Can you wonder if I do? How many women would take this scandalous matter as quietly as I do?
gpt
It's not scandalous, said Kaimes, fiercely.
human
She thinks that I am a bachelor, and I'm not even engaged to her. I have tried to be true to you, Leah,
gpt
Well?
human
I'll do what you want,
gpt
Then there's no more to be said, remarked Leah, coldly, moving towards the door of her bedroom.
human
Demetrius will explain, if you will afford him half an hour's private conversation.
gpt
Leah, do you really mean it?
human
I have meant it from the first moment you put the idea into my head, she said in a harsh voice.
gpt
This underhand love-making of yours only makes me the more determined.
human
But there was no----
gpt
Don't lie, Jim. A man can no more love two women than he can serve two masters. Is it to be Lola Fajardo, or myself?
human
I leave it to you, Leah.
gpt
Then I choose the fifteen thousand pounds,