human
Mr. Moss, I am not your dear young lady,
gpt
Would that you were! We should be as happy as the day is long. There would be no money troubles then. She could not fail to make comparisons between him and the English nobleman who had just left her, which left the Englishman infinitely superior; although, with the few thoughts she had given to him, she had already begun to doubt whether Lord Castlewell's morality stood very high.
human
What will you do for money for the next three months? You cannot do without money,
gpt
I have already found a friend,
human
What! his lordship there?
gpt
I am not bound to answer any such questions.
human
But I know; I can see the game is all up if it has come to that. I am a fellow-workman, and there have been, and perhaps will be, many relations between us. A hundred pounds advanced here or there must be brought into the accounts sooner or later. That is honest; that will bear daylight; no young lady need be ashamed of that; even if you were Mrs. Jones you need not be ashamed of such a transaction.
gpt
I am not Mrs. Jones,
human
But if you were, Mr. Jones would have no ground of complaint, unless indeed on the score of extravagance. But a present from this lord!
gpt
It is no present. It does not come from the lord; it comes from the funds of the theatre.
human
Ha, ha, ha! laughed Mr. Moss.
gpt
Is that the little game with which he attempts to cajole you? How has he got his hand into the treasury of the theatre, so that he may be able to help you so conveniently? You have not got the money yet, I suppose?
human
I have not got his money--which may be dangerous, or yours--which would certainly be more so. Though from neither of you could the bare money hurt me, if it were taken with an innocent heart. From you it would be a distress, an annoyance, a blister. From him it would be simply a loan either from himself or from the theatre with which he is connected. I may be mistaken, but I have imagined that it would come from the theatre; I will ascertain, and if it be not so, I will decline the loan.
gpt
Do you not know his character? nor his mode of living, nor his dealing with actresses? You will not at any rate get credit for such innocence when you tell the story. Why;--he has come here to call upon you, and of course it is all over the theatre already that you are his mistress. I came in here to endeavour to save you; but I fear it is too late.
human
Impudent scoundrel,
gpt
That is all very well, but I have endeavoured to save you. I would believe none of them when they told me that you would not be my wife because you were married to Mr. Jones. Nor would I believe them when they have told me since that you were not fit to be the wife of anyone. Rachel's hand went in among the folds of her dress, and returned with a dagger in it. Words had been said to her now which she swore to herself were unbearable.
human
Yes; you are in a passion now;
gpt
It is true, she said,
human
But if you knew it, I am endeavouring to save you. Imprudent as you have been I still wish to make you my wife. Here Rachel in her indignation spat upon the floor.
gpt
Yes; I am anxious to make you an honest woman.
human
You can make no woman honest. It is altogether beyond your power.
gpt
It will be so when you have taken this lord's money.
human
I have not at any rate taken yours. It is that which would disgrace me. Between this lord and me there has been no word that could do so.
gpt
Will he make you his wife?
human
Wife! No. He is married for aught that I know. He has spoken to me no word except about my profession. Nor shall you. Cannot a woman sing without being wife to any man?
gpt
Ha, ha, yes indeed!
human
I can sing and I need no husband.
gpt
It is common with the friends of the lord that they do not generally rank very high in their profession. I have endeavoured to save you from this kind of thing, and see the return that I get! You will, however, soon have left us, and you will then find that to fill first place at 'The Embankment' is better than a second or a third at Covent Garden.
human
If that girl would only go as I'd have her, said Mr. Moss to the most confidential of his theatrical friends,
gpt
I'd make her Mrs. Moss to-morrow, and her fame should be blazoned all over the world before twelve months had gone as Madame Moussa.