human
Capricciosa, he mused aloud.
gpt
That is not her name.
human
And I shall not tell it you.
gpt
But her given name? Just a straw; something to hold on; I'm a drowning man.
human
It is Hilda.
gpt
That is German.
human
She prefers it to Sonia.
gpt
Sonia Hilda; it begins well. May I keep this letter?
human
Certainly not. With that _cara mia_? Give it to me.
gpt
Shall I seek her?
human
This is my advice: don't think of her after to-night. If you ever see or recognize her, avoid her. It may sound theatrical, but she is the innocent cause of two deaths. These men sought her openly, too.
gpt
What has she done?
human
She made a great, though common, mistake.
gpt
Political?
human
Don't be foolish. I am sorry I let you see the letter. I forgot that she told me her hiding-place.
gpt
Her hiding-place?
human
Mr. Hillard, she is as far removed from your orbit as Mars' is from Jupiter's. Forget her.
gpt
My orbit is not limited. I shall seek her; when I find her I shall ... marry her.
human
Sphinx!
gpt
I like you too much, Mr. Hillard, to stand by and see you break your heart against a stone wall.
human
Don't you see, the deeper the mystery is the more powerful the attraction becomes?