human
You won't make her think she was always wrong by proving that you were always right, Cyril.
gpt
Am I to say I was wrong where I know I was right?
human
You've probably said you were right already. Need you repeat it?
gpt
I'm ready to forgive her--absolutely and unreservedly.
human
Would you go a little further--do something rather harder? Accept forgiveness? The diplomatist smiled.
gpt
Conditional forgiveness we might call it, perhaps. Forgiveness in case there might be anything for her to forgive?
human
On my honour, I don't understand what she's got to complain of. I took her from a poor home, I've given her every luxury, she shares my career--I needn't use mock modesty with you, Frank--I've given her absolute fidelity----
gpt
Is there anybody who has influence with her--whom she likes and relies on?
human
I should hate anybody else being dragged into it--except you, of course. I asked her to come to you.
gpt
Oh, I know I'm suspect. I should be no good. He smiled contentedly.
human
Nobody you can think of?
gpt
Well, the man she consulted about it was Hobart Gaynor.
human
Hobart Gaynor? Yes, I know him. Not a bad choice of hers, Cyril, if she felt she had to go to some one. Not quite our way of thinking, but a very good fellow.
gpt
Why is he to poke his nose into my affairs?
human
Come, come, she poked her pretty nose into his office, no doubt, and probably he'd much rather she hadn't. I've experience of ladies in distress, Cyril. I am, in fact, as the Great Duke said of authors--when he was Chancellor of Oxford, you know--much exposed to them.
gpt
I didn't come here to discuss Hobart Gaynor.
human
I hope we sometimes do wiser things than we come to do--or what's the good of a talk? Let's discuss Hobart Gaynor in the light of--say--an ambassador, or a go-between. You're looking very formidable, Cyril. Did you often look at Mrs. Maxon like that? If so, I hope she'd done something really wicked. Because, if she hadn't, you did.
gpt
Let Gaynor go to her with a message of peace. Bygones to be bygones, faults on both sides, a fresh start, and so on.
human
I can't bring myself to speak to him about it.
gpt
Let me. She's your wife, you know. If she went wrong, mightn't you feel that some effort of yours would--well, have made the difference?
human
What am I to tell him to say?
gpt
Let me tell him what to say--you try to honour my draft when it's presented. Perhaps--God knows--we're fighting for her soul, Cyril, and we shall be asked how we've borne ourselves in the fight, shan't we?