human
M. Demetrius! Are you mad?
gpt
Not Constantine, then.
human
What do you mean?
gpt
Where is he?
human
Where is who?
gpt
Oh, madame --he became sarcastic here--
human
I know nothing, save that you are foolish to venture into Paris, where there is a price on your head. M. Aksakoff is here, too; if he knew--if he guessed.
gpt
Well, what matter? I have run greater risks for lesser reasons.
human
Yet they must be strong ones in the present instance, to make you enter the bear's den.
gpt
I have one reason for my venture, madame--you; and another--Mr. Askew; not to speak of a third--this marriage at your Embassy.
human
I can understand the first; the second may be explained by wholly unnecessary jealousy; but the final one--this marriage you speak of?
gpt
Between yourself and Mr. Askew.
human
My dear Constantine, the idea is too ridiculous.
gpt
I have the news on good authority.
human
Which is the last authority you should believe. Mr. Askew is certainly here; but not, I believe, in the character of a bridegroom.
gpt
Mrs. Penworthy----
human
Oh! Leah's scorn was worthy of the great Sarah.
gpt
Mrs.--Penworthy?
human
She told me that you came here; that Mr. Askew followed----
gpt
Forty-eight hours later. Quite correct.
human
And that you intended to marry him at the British Embassy.
gpt
Really! I never knew that Mrs. Penworthy was imaginative.
human
It is not true!
gpt
You must be mad to think so.
human
It is not true?
gpt
You yourself have denied the truth of it twice. Mr. Askew at this moment dances round Miss Tallentire's skirts. Would I permit that, if----? Oh, ridiculous! You men swallow camels.
human
It is not true--ah, if I could only be sure of that. This woman--this Mrs. Penworthy--she swore--swore--that you--that you---- He choked, flung himself headlong to where she smiled contemptuous, and seized her hands vehemently.
gpt
Swear that it is false!
human
I do swear, rejoined Leah, disengaging her wrists.
gpt
You can take Mr. Askew back to London if you like. He is engaged to marry a lady in South America. There is nothing between us--nothing. A flirtation, yes; banter and pretty smiles, idle nothings and surface conversations. She smoothed back his hair and smiled playfully.
human
Am I marrying Othello?
gpt
You are so beautiful,
human
In your eyes, no doubt. Mr. Askew prefers brunettes south of the Equator. But! --she rose suddenly, as though she spurned him--but
gpt
I prefer trust. I am angry--yes, very angry. Oh, that you should doubt me--doubt me!
human
I do not--I do not
gpt
Your presence here proves otherwise. Mr. Askew, indeed--a general lover, a volatile sailor with a wife in every port for all I know. Can you not credit me with more exclusive tastes?
human
He is handsome,
gpt
Is he? So you think I am to be won by looks, like a schoolmiss in her teens ; she looked at his sharp white face, and laughed cruelly.
human
That I am engaged to you should prove differently.
gpt
Swear! Swear!
human
I shall in a moment, she cried angrily.
gpt
The most patient of women--of whom I am not one--have their limits. Why do you allow jealousy to overrule common sense, when the position is so plain? You fixed your price and fulfilled your part of the bargain. Am I, I ask you, free to play you this trick of a hasty marriage, when you can expose me as privy to a fraud? You see that I do not mince matters; I speak plainly, do I not? You have all the winning cards, and can compel me to become your wife, even if I dissented. Why, then, do you come here on a fool's errand?
human
But I love you so,
gpt
And love, being blind, makes you stumble into danger. I think you had better return to England by the night train.
human
Am I to leave you with Mr. Askew?
gpt
Oh, take him with you; I gave you permission before. And pray don't make scenes--I dislike them.
human
Then I am wrong?
gpt
Faugh! If you doubt my word, perhaps you will take Mr. Askew's. He will be here soon with Miss Tallentire. I decline to defend a position which requires no defence.
human
But indeed, my soul, you should not be enraged; that I should risk what I do risk surely proves my love for you.
gpt
You have proved it before by getting me the insurance money, she replied impatiently;
human
Then you promise to marry me.
gpt
Yes! Leah heaved a sigh of exhaustion.
human
How often do you wish me to say so? Even if you remain Dr. Demetrius I am bound to become your wife, seeing that you hold my reputation in your hands. Though of course, she added sweetly,
gpt
I expect to be Princess Constantine Demetrius.
human
I am willing--believe me, I am willing, he stuttered, now quite positive that Mrs. Penworthy was a liar of the worst.
gpt
Aksakoff----
human
What of him?
gpt
Did you not say that he would aid me to regain my position, if I gave up Katinka?
human
He said something like that, she rejoined carelessly, and wondering why at this moment he recalled the proposition.
gpt
But I rather fancy his offer was merely to leave you alone.
human
Certainly I could secure the services of Mademoiselle Aksakoff, he murmured;
gpt
If you think so, why not make amends and marry her?
human
Because I love you, and at great risk I have bought you. He glared at her savagely.
gpt
I refuse to let you go; you are mine--mine.
human
I never denied that, said Lady Jim, dryly;
gpt
Wait! He flung up an imperative hand.
human
I shall see Aksakoff.
gpt
No!
human
Yes. Ah, my adored, I know how you feel for my safety ; his voice took on a caressing tone.
gpt
But--it is nothing ; he brushed away imaginary danger with a rapid gesture.
human
I shall see him. I shall plainly surrender Katinka, and then--then, when he knows that we--you and I--are to marry, he will interest himself with the Czar, on our--you mark me, my angel--on our behalf.
gpt
It's a mad idea, impracticable. You dare not trust Aksakoff.
human
Ah, bah! He will not arrest me publicly--he cannot. The scandal--the diplomatic storm--the newspapers. No, no!--it is too absurd. Besides --he shrugged--
gpt
Hum! said Lady Jim, rejoicing that the prisoner should thus lock himself in and pitch the key out of the window.
human
M. Aksakoff hinted something of this to me at Monte Carlo.
gpt
Then you can see--then you must understand, Demetrius gesticulated excitedly.
human
Should I surrender Mademoiselle--if I write a letter stating that I do not love, that there can by no means be marriage--Aksakoff will help me, help you, help us both.
gpt
As Prince and Princess Demetrius. Yes, I see. And yet--the risk.
human
There is no risk, publicly. And to snare me in secret--no. I am wary--oh, most wary; no one can trap me. I swear to you, no one.
gpt
Demetrius, said Leah, as gravely as her delight would let her,
human
--she laid an anxious hand on his arm--
gpt
I shall stay here, and see Aksakoff,
human
Very good, assented Lady Jim, accepting the fiat.
gpt
He is coming to luncheon; you can speak to him then.
human
Why to luncheon? asked the doctor, sharply.
gpt
Why not? demanded Leah, up in arms on the instant.
human
When we are married, your enemies shall be my enemies; until then, my friends--of whom M. Aksakoff is one--shall be my own. She became less imperative in her speech and looks, dropping to a conversational tone.
gpt
If you must know, Katinka asked her father to call while he was in Paris. I could not do less than ask him to luncheon, could I?