human
What message did you send to me by Madame Socani?
gpt
What message? None!
human
He asked me to be-- But she could not tell her father of what nature was the message.
gpt
Father, he is a reptile. If you knew all, you would be unable to keep your hands from his throat. And now he dares to come here and talk to me of his affection. You had better bid him leave the room and have done with him.
human
You hear what my daughter says, Mr. Moss.
gpt
Yes, I hear her, answered the poor innocent-looking tenor.
human
But what does she mean? Why is she so fierce?
gpt
He knows, father, said Rachel.
human
Have nothing further to say to him.
gpt
I don't think that I do quite know, said Mr. O'Mahony.
human
But you can see, at any rate, Mr. Moss, that she does not return your feeling.
gpt
I would make her my wife to-morrow, said Mr. Moss, slapping his waistcoat once more.
human
And do you, as the young lady's papa, think of what we two might do together. I know myself, I know my power. Madame Socani is a jealous woman. She would wish to be taken into partnership with me,--not a partnership of hearts, but of theatres. She has come with some insolent message, but not from me;--ah, not from me!
gpt
You never tried to kiss me? You did not make two attempts?
human
I would make two thousand if I were to consult my own heart.
gpt
When you knew that I was engaged to Mr. Jones!
human
What was Mr. Jones to me? Now I ask your respectable parent, is Miss Rachel unreasonable? When a gentleman has lost his heart in true love, is he to be reproached because he endeavours to seize one little kiss? Did not Mr. Jones do the same?
gpt
Bother Mr. Jones! said Rachel, overcome by the absurdity of the occasion.
human
As you observed just now, Mr. Jones and I are two. Things have not turned out happily, though I am not obliged to explain all that to you. But Mr. Jones is to me all that a man should be; you, Mr. Moss, are not. Now, father, had he not better go?
gpt
I don't think any good is to be done, I really don't,
human
Why am I to be treated in this way?
gpt
Because you come here persevering when you know it's no good.
human
I think of what you and I might do together with Moss's theatre between us.
gpt
Oh, heavens!
human
You should be called the O'Mahony. Your respectable papa should keep an eye to your pecuniary interest.
gpt
I could keep an eye myself for that.
human
You would be my own wife, of course--my own wife.
gpt
I wouldn't be anything of the kind.
human
Ah, but listen! continued Mr. Moss.
gpt
You do not know how the profits run away into the pockets of _impresarios_ and lessees and money-lenders. We should have it all ourselves. I have £30,000 of my own, and my respectable parent in New York has as much more. It would all be the same as ours. Only think! Before long we would have a house on the Fifth Avenue so furnished that all the world should wonder; and another at Newport, where the world should not be admitted to wonder. Only think!
human
And Madame Socani to look after the furniture!
gpt
Madame Socani should be nowheres.
human
And I also will be nowheres. Pray remember that in making all your little domestic plans. If you live in the Fifth Avenue, I will live in 350 Street; or perhaps I should like it better to have a little house here in Albert Place. Father, don't you think Mr. Moss might go away?
gpt
I think you have said all that there is to be said.
human
Not quite, Mr. O'Mahony. Allow me for one moment. As the young lady's papa you are bound to look to these things. Though the theatre would be a joint affair, Miss O'Mahony would have her fixed salary;--that is to say, Mrs. Moss would.
gpt
I won't stand it, said Rachel getting up.
human
I won't allow any man to call me by so abominable a name,--or any woman.
gpt
It's no good, you see,
human
I by no means see that so certain. Of course a young lady like your daughter knows her own value, and does not yield all at once.
gpt
I tell you it's no good. I know my own daughter.
human
Excuse me, Mr. O'Mahony, but I doubt whether you know the sex.
gpt
Perhaps not,
human
They have been my study up from my cradle,
gpt
No doubt.
human
And I think that I have carried on the battle not without some little _éclat_.
gpt
I am quite sure of it.
human
I still hope that I may succeed with your sweet daughter.
gpt
Here the battle is of a different kind, not without a touch of satire in the tone of his voice, whatever there might be in the words which he used.
human
In tournaments of love, you have, I do not doubt, been very successful; but here, it seems to me that the struggle is for money.
gpt
That is only an accident.
human
But the accident rises above everything. It does not matter in the least which comes first. Whether it be for love or money my daughter will certainly have a will of her own. You may take my word that she is not to be talked out of her mind.
gpt
But Mr. Jones is gone?
human
But she is not on that account ready to transfer her affections at a moment's notice. To her view of the matter there seems to be something a little indelicate in the idea.
gpt
Bah!
human
You cannot make her change her mind by saying bah.
gpt
Professional interests have to be considered,
human
No doubt; my daughter does consider her professional interests every day when she practises for two hours.
gpt
That is excellent,--and with such glorious effects! She has only now got the full use of her voice. My G----! what could she not do if she had the full run of Moss's Theatre! She might choose whatever operas would suit her best; and she would have me to guide her judgment! I do know my profession, Mr. O'Mahony. A lady in her line should always marry a gentleman in mine; that is if she cares about matrimony.
human
Of course she did intend to be married to Mr. Jones.
gpt
Oh! Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones! I am sick of Mr. Jones. What could Mr. Jones do? He is only a poor ruined Irishman. You must feel that Mr. Jones was only in the way. I am offering her all that professional experience and capital can do. What are her allurements?
human
I don't in the least know, Mr. Moss.
gpt
Only her beauty.
human
I thought, perhaps it was her singing.
gpt
That joined, said Mr. Moss.
human
No doubt her voice and her beauty joined together. Madame Socani's voice is as valuable,--almost as valuable.
gpt
I would marry Madame Socani if I were you.
human
No! Madame Socani is,--well a leetle past her prime. Madame Socani and I have known each other for twenty years. Madame Socani is aware that I am attached to your daughter. Well; I do not mind telling you the truth. Madame Socani and I have been on very intimate terms. I did offer once to make Madame Socani my wife. She did not see her way in money matters. She was making an income greater than mine. Things have changed since that. Madame Socani is very well, but she is a jealous woman. Madame Socani hates your daughter. Oh, heavens, yes! But she was never my wife. Oh, no! A woman at this profession grows old quicker than a man. And she has never succeeded in getting a theatre of her own. She did try her hand at it at New York, but that came to nothing. If Miss Rachel will venture along with me, we will have 500,000 dollars before five years are gone. She shall have everything that the world can offer--jewels, furniture, hangings! She shall keep the best table in New York, and shall have her own banker's account. There's no such success to be found anywhere for a young woman. If you will only just turn it in your mind, Mr. O'Mahony.