human
By the by, have you heard from the wanderers this week?
gpt
I heard from Sabina this morning. Marie is very poorly, I fear. They have been at Kissingen, bathing; and are going to Bertrich: somebody has recommended the baths there.
human
Bertrich! Where's Bertrich?
gpt
The most delicious little nest of a place, half way up the Moselle, among the volcano craters.
human
Don't know it. Have they found that Yankee?
gpt
No.
human
Why, I thought Sabina had a whole detective force of pets and protégés, from Boulogne to Rome.
gpt
Well, she has at least heard of him at Baden; and then again at Stuttgard: but he has escaped them as yet.
human
And poor Marie is breaking her heart all the while? I'll tell you what, Claude, it will be well for him if he escapes me as well as them.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
I certainly shan't go to the East without shaking hands once more with Marie and Sabina; and if in so doing I pass that fellow, it's a pity if I don't have a snap shot at him.
gpt
Tom! Tom! I had hoped your duelling days were over.
human
They will be, over, when one can get the law to punish such puppies; but not till then. Hang the fellow! What business had he with her at all, if he didn't intend to marry her?
gpt
I tell you, as I told you before, it is she who will not marry him.
human
And yet she's breaking her heart for him. I can see it all plain enough, Claude. She has found him out only too late. I know him-- luxurious, selfish, blazé; would give a thousand dollars to-morrow, I believe, like the old Roman, for a new pleasure: and then amuses himself with her till he breaks her heart! Of course she won't many him: because she knows that if he found out her Quadroon blood--ah, that's it! I'll lay my life he has found it out already, and that is why he has bolted!
gpt
You think so yourself, I see! Very well. You know that whatever I have been to others, that girl has nothing against me.
human
Nothing against you? Why, she owes you honour, life, everything.
gpt
Never mind that. Only when I take a fancy to begin, I'll carry it through. I took to that girl, for poor Wyse's sake; and I'll behave by her to the last as he would wish; and he who insults her, insults me. I won't go out of my way to find Stangrave: but if I do, I'll have it out!
human
Then you will certainly fight. My dearest Tom, do look into your own heart, and see whether you have not a grain or two of spite against him left. I assure you you judge him too harshly.
gpt
Hum--that must take its chance. At least, if we fight, we fight fairly and equally. He is a brave man--I will do him that justice--and a cool one; and used to be a sweet shot. So he has just as good a chance of shooting me, if I am in the wrong, as I have of shooting him, if he is.
human
But your father?
gpt
I know. That is very disagreeable; and all the more so because I am going to insure my life--a pretty premium they will make me pay!--and if I'm killed in a duel, it will be forfeited. However, the only answer to that is, that either I shan't fight, or if I do, I shan't be killed. You know I don't believe in being killed, Claude.
human
Tom! Tom! The same as ever!
gpt
Well, old man, and what else would you have me? Nobody could ever alter me, you know; and why should I alter myself? Here I am, after all, alive and jolly; and there is old daddy, as comfortable as he ever can be on earth: and so it will be to the end of the chapter. There! let's talk of something else.