Page:The Story of the Gadsbys - Kipling (1888).djvu/41

 —Since you insist upon my repeating it—Yes.

—Lie the first. I wish I knew a coarser word. Lie seems so ineffectual in your case. The fire has just died out, and there is no fresh one? Think for a minute, Pip, if you care whether I despise you more than I do. Simply Mafisch, is it?

—Yes. (Aside.) I think I deserve this. {To butler.} Champagne.

—Lie number two. Before the next glass chokes you, tell me her name.

(aside).—I'll make her pay for dragging Minnie into the business. (Aloud.) Is it likely?

—Very likely if you thought that it would flatter your vanity. You'd cry my name on the housetops to make people turn round.

—I wish I had. There would have been an end to this business.

—Oh, no, there would not And so you were going to be virtuous and blasé, were you? To come to me and say: "I've done with you. The incident is clo-osed." I ought to be proud of having kept such a man so long.

(aside).—It only remains to pray for the end of the dinner. (Aloud.) You know what I think of myself.

—As it's the only person in the world you ever do think of, and as I know your mind thoroughly—I do. You want to get it all over and Oh, I can't keep you back! And you're going—think of it, Pip—to throw me over for another woman. And you swore that all other women were Pip, my Pip! She can't care for you as I do. Believe me, she can't! Is it any one that I know?

—Thank Goodness it isn't. (Aside.) I expected a cyclone, but not an earthquake.

—She can't! Is there anything that I wouldn't do for you or haven't done? And to think that I should take this trouble over you, knowing what you are! Do you despise me for it?