human
Of course you are,
gpt
And yet you're advising me, he said, returning to the charge,
human
If I remember rightly, the question you raised was not about you, but about her. It wasn't as to whether you should marry her, but as to whether she should marry you. I'm not disputing your point of view; I'm only defending Olivia's. I can see three good reasons why you should keep your word to her--
gpt
Indeed? And what are they?
human
First, as you can't do anything else. Second--
gpt
Your first reason, he interrupted, hastily, as though he feared she suspected him of not being convinced of it,
human
Still, she insisted,
gpt
The point is that I'm in love with her, and--if it's not claiming too much--she with me. We've nothing else to consider.
human
You haven't. She has. She has all the things I've just hinted at--and ever so many more; besides which, she added, taking a detached, casual tone,
gpt
I suppose she has to make up her mind one way or another as to what she's going to do about Peter Davenant.
human
About Peter--who?
gpt
Oh? Hasn't she told you about _him?_
human
Not a word. Who is he?
gpt
He's up-stairs with Cousin Henry.
human
The big fellow who was here just now? That--lumpkin?
gpt
Yes, she said, dryly,
human
So he's the Fairy Prince? He certainly doesn't look it.
gpt
No; he doesn't look it; but he's as much of a problem to Olivia as if he did.
human
Why? What has he to do with her?
gpt
Nothing, except that I suppose she must feel very grateful.
human
When you say that, he asked,
gpt
I suppose I mean everything in particular. The situation is one in which all the details count.
human
And the bearing of this special detail--
gpt
Oh, don't try to make me explain that. In the first place, I don't know; and in the second, I shouldn't tell you if I did. I'm merely giving you the facts. I think you're entitled to know _them_.
human
So I should have said. Are there many more? I've had a lot since I landed. I thought I must have heard pretty well all there was--
gpt
Probably you had, except just that. I imagine Olivia found it difficult to speak of, and so I'm doing it for her.
human
Why should she find it difficult to speak of? It's a mere matter of business, I suppose.
gpt
If it's business to give Cousin Henry what would be nearly a hundred thousand pounds in English money, with no prospect that any one can see of his ever getting it back--that is, not unless old Madame de Melcourt--
human
Oh, I say! Then he's one of your beastly millionaires, by Jove!--grind the noses off the poor, and that sort of thing, to play Haroun-al-Raschid with the cash.
gpt
Not in the least. He never ground the nose off any one; and as for being a millionaire, father says that what he's done for Cousin Henry will pretty well clean him out.
human
All the same, he's probably done it with a jolly sharp eye to the main chance.
gpt
Oh, I dare say his motives weren't altogether altruistic. Only it's a little difficult to see where the main chance comes in.
human
Then what the deuce is he up to?
gpt
I'm afraid I can't tell you that. I repeat that I'm only giving you the facts. You must interpret them for yourself.