human
Now we can chat at our ease, he said as we settled into easy chairs.
gpt
Is it still your habit to smoke a cigarette before a cigar?
human
Was that one of my habits, then?
gpt
All right, you do it very well. Ought to be on the stage, on my word you ought, he said with a broader leer.
human
But now, let's get to grips. How do we two stand?
gpt
About what?
human
Don't fool about in that way. You know what I mean.
gpt
I shall when you tell me.
human
Do you want to have me for a friend or the other thing?
gpt
I told you yesterday I wasn't likely to quarrel with any one who has such influence as you have.
human
And I told you that it would be a bad day's work for you if we did quarrel; and quarrel we shall if you try to beat about the bush, as you're doing now. I believe in plain talk; and you'd better bear that in mind, not only now but always.
gpt
Then let me have some plain talk now.
human
You shall, taking his cigar out and flicking off the ash.
gpt
I've only to utter a word or two and I can flick you out of my way as easily as I flicked that ash off. Mind that, too.
human
You have a pleasant way with you, von Erstein.
gpt
I don't care a curse about pleasantness or unpleasantness. When I want a thing, I have it. And what I want now is that English girl at the von Reblings', and you'd better be careful not to get in my way about it.
human
How am I likely to be in your way?
gpt
Because you're a relative of the von Reblings, my friend, and you're going to marry the fair Rosa, whom, by the way, I can tell you as an old hand you'll find a handful. But she likes the English girl and will try to influence you, and if I know her, as I certainly do, she'll succeed, if I don't stop it.
human
Stop it? How?
gpt
By showing you on which side your bread has the butter. Now look here. I know a heap about you; quite enough to queer your pitch with the von Reblings and put an end to your engagement and lose you the coin on which you're counting. All this rot about a loss of memory is just----
human
What do you know about me?
gpt
Oh, don't try that fool's game on me.
human
But I should be intensely interested in the story. I'm itching to know all about myself,
gpt
Where did you go from G飆tingen, my young friend?
human
How the devil do I know?
gpt
You went to Hanover. You know that perfectly well.
human
Did I? And do I? You're getting me regularly mixed, you know.
gpt
You did. And when you were there you had a friend, who called himself Gossen; but was in reality a Frenchman, named Gaudet. Don't say you don't remember, because it will be a lie,
human
That's an ugly word, von Erstein.
gpt
And the whole thing was an ugly business. He was a spy and wanted some secrets; you were able to find them out; and you were suddenly found to be in possession of a big sum of money. How did you get it?
human
Honestly, I hope,
gpt
How did you get it? And how did you get the information, too? That's the question; and if you won't answer it, I can. But you'd better not force me to open my lips.
human
I'm beginning to get awfully interested. Like a story, isn't it?
gpt
You'd better laugh while you can,
human
Of course you mean I sold the information to the Frenchman and that that accounts for my having that sudden money.
gpt
I not only mean it, I can prove it. Prove it, do you understand that?
human
Some one's been pulling your leg, von Erstein. The whole thing's just bosh.
gpt
It's no good, Lassen. I've got you here; and he held out his hand and clenched it.
human
Here! And no wriggling humbug about loss of memory will help you to get out.
gpt
I must be an infernal blackguard, then.
human
That's the truest thing you've said since you came. It's just what you are; and the von Reblings ought to know it.
gpt
You haven't told me how I got that valuable information yet. I should like to know that.
human
If you'll let that lost memory of yours wake up for a second, just long enough to remember the name of Anna Hilden, you'll know all about it without a word from me.
gpt
But my memory won't oblige me by waking up, you see. Had she anything to do with it?
human
To the devil with all your pretended innocence! You know she had, and that you induced her to worm it out of the man she was to have married, if you hadn't come in the road; just as you're trying now with me, he cried, scowling at me threateningly.
gpt
But you've got a man to deal with this time, not a woman, and the wrong sort of man too.
human
Of course all you say may be the gospel truth, but I give you my word that I haven't the faintest recollection of anything you've mentioned.
gpt
That's a lie,
human
If this weren't your own place, I'd cram that word down your throat; and the next time we meet, wherever it is, I'll do it,
gpt
I'll take that back, he muttered.
human
Sit down again.