human
Calm yourself, Valdriguez, he said at last.
gpt
If you can convince me that his Lordship had in his possession something which rightfully belonged to you, I promise that, if it can be found, it shall be restored to you. Tell me, what it is that you are looking for?
human
Tell you--never! Are you not of his blood? You promise--so did he--the smooth-tongued villain! All these years have I lived on promises! Never will I trust one of his race again.
gpt
You have got to trust me whether you want to or not. Your position could not be worse than it is, could it? Don't you see that your only hope lies in being able to persuade me that you are an honest woman?
human
Indeed, you do not look cruel or deceitful. And, as you say, I am powerless without you, so I must take the risk of your being what you seem. I will tell you the truth. But first, my lord, will you swear not to betray my secret to any living being?
gpt
You have my word for it. That is-- he hastily added,
human
Nothing, my lord.
gpt
I am looking, she said at last, speaking slowly and with a visible effort,
human
Your son? So you were his Lordship's mistress----
gpt
Before God I was his wife! I am no wanton, my lord!
human
The old story--
gpt
Do not dare to say that my child's mother was a loose woman! I will not permit it. Arthur Wilmersley--may his Maker judge him as he deserves--wrecked my life, but at least he never doubted my virtue. He knew that the only way to get me was to marry me.
human
So he actually married you?
gpt
No--but for a long time I believed that he had. How could a young, innocent girl have suspected that the man she loved was capable of such cold-blooded deception? Even now, I cannot blame myself for having fallen into the trap he baited with such fiendish cunning. Think of it--he induced me to consent to a secret marriage by promising that if I made this sacrifice for his sake, he would become a convert to my religion--my religion! And as we stood together before the altar, I remember that I thanked God for giving me this opportunity of saving a soul from destruction. I never dreamed that the church he took me to was nothing but an old ruin he had fitted up as a chapel for the occasion. How could I guess that the man who married us was not a priest but a mountebank, whom he had hired to act the part?
human
I know that not many people would believe you but, well--I do.