human
Rather a rough judgment, I replied with a shrug,
gpt
Explain!
human
Yes, explain. That's what I said. If you understood----
gpt
I do understand as it is--too well,
human
I must either smile or lose my temper as you have done; and it's better to smile.
gpt
Just what I should expect of you--to see nothing but a joke in my indignation.
human
I'm not laughing at your indignation, but at your mistake. You always have been ready to make the worst of anything I do.
gpt
What have you ever done that was worth doing?
human
Nothing much, I admit.
gpt
If you were like other men you'd be doing what they are doing--fighting.
human
Perhaps I should; but we can't all be soldiers.
gpt
Men can; but even you needn't have sunk so low as to be a spy!
human
Go on. I'm not ashamed of what I'm doing; and if you'll let me explain----
gpt
I need no explanation, thank you. Aren't you here as Johann Lassen?
human
Yes.
gpt
Pretending to be engaged to Rosa von Rebling?
human
Yes.
gpt
And pretending to have lost your memory?
human
Yes.
gpt
Haven't you both spoken and acted lies to gain admission to this house?
human
I had to, of course.
gpt
You convict yourself out of your own mouth, then?
human
Apparently.
gpt
Aren't you trying to get employed in the Secret Service here?
human
Looks black, doesn't it?
gpt
Looks! and she drew a long deep breath and repeated the word.
human
But you don't imagine for one instant that I will be a party to it!
gpt
You are already, for that matter.
human
You shall leave this house at once and never set foot in it again, and I shall find the means to let Rosa know the disgraceful trick you have played.
gpt
And if I refuse?
human
I'll expose you as surely as my name is Nessa Caldicott.
gpt
You know what the result would be to me?
human
I neither know nor care.
gpt
Then I'll tell you. I should certainly be imprisoned and most probably shot.
human
It is easy for you to avoid it by doing what I say--leave the house.
gpt
That's out of the question.
human
Do you expect me to allow you to go on imposing on the girl who has been my friend at a time when I was absolutely helpless? Wouldn't you be ashamed of me if I were to consent to such treachery? Can't you see what a vile degradation it would be, and that I should hate myself as well as you if I consented?
gpt
No. Yes. Yes. I wish you'd ask one question at a time.
human
Do you expect me to smile at such insufferable flippancy as that?
gpt
No. But it wasn't flippancy at all. I was answering your questions in order. You appear to think that I like being compelled to deceive Miss von Rebling.
human
How can you talk about having been compelled to do it?
gpt
Because it happens to be the truth.
human
Your version of the truth, you mean?
gpt
Exactly. My version of the truth, although you won't believe it. I was forced into the thing against my will by a series of coincidences which I found it impossible to avoid; and, as a matter of fact, I am not harming Miss von Rebling in the least.
human
Haven't you led her to believe you may break off the engagement?
gpt
I've been considering it.
human
Don't you call that harming her?
gpt
No.
human
How can you say that? What will happen when the real man arrives?
gpt
Not even then.
human
It's impossible, she cried.
gpt
In any case I insist upon her being told.