Part 50 (1/2)
Her violence made no impression on the attorney, who replied with the utmost coolness:
”I'm sure, your ladys.h.i.+p, you are so clever, and so businesslike and generous, that----”
”No, sir, no!” screamed Lady Rety. ”Don't you rely upon my generosity, or folly, if you please! Indeed, Mr. Catspaw, I'm happy to know you at last! I'm proud to understand what was at the bottom of your zeal!”
”Your ladys.h.i.+p does me too much honour!” said Mr. Catspaw, with his grating voice; ”and it's a pity that you should endanger your precious health by the violence of your grat.i.tude. But this generous burst of pa.s.sion adds to my conviction that your ladys.h.i.+p will joyfully embrace my proposals.”
”Your proposals, indeed!” cried the lady. ”You are an impertinent scoundrel, sir! I'd like to see the man that can force _me_ to any thing! The very fulfilment of my promise depends upon my own free will.
Where are your witnesses, sir? Where's your judge? No, sir! You have nothing to rely upon except my generosity, particularly since you neglected to fulfil the very first condition of our bargain. Where _are_ those papers, sir? for all _I_ know they may be at Vandory's, or somebody else's; and you, sir, how dare you ask me for money on the wretched plea of your having burnt them!”
”Nothing is so easy for me as to satisfy your ladys.h.i.+p on that point,”
retorted the attorney, with a sneer. ”The papers are still in my hands.
You are welcome to see them any time you like.”
Lady Rety stood trembling, speechless, and stunned. At length she muttered,--
”You forget, sir! You told me you'd thrown them into the fire.”
”I'm fully aware of it!” sneered Mr. Catspaw, ”And not only did I tell you I'd burnt the papers, but for a moment I had that insane intention.
Thank goodness! I did not carry it into execution.”
”But why did you not give me the papers?” said Lady Rety, with so trembling a voice that it was clear she knew the attorney's motives.
”Why did I not give them to _you_? Can your ladys.h.i.+p dare to ask me such a question? But I'll tell you. I did not do it, because, having devoted my life to yourself and your family, I had no mind to be cast aside like a used-up tool. I kept the papers, because I would not trust to your generosity, and because I thought it was better to be safe than to be a fool.”
”Do let us talk it quietly over. Suppose I _was_ violent just now! are we not old friends? and have you not spoiled me?” said Lady Rety, forcing a smile. ”The papers are in your hands: they are your property; and nothing can be more fair than your wish to sell them. But your demand of fifty thousand florins is utterly inadmissible.”
”I would not take one penny less than that,” replied Mr. Catspaw, with great composure. ”Papers for the possession of which a lady of your ladys.h.i.+p's rank and condition condescends to such deeds as we enacted together, I say, such papers must be worth their weight in gold.”
”Beast!” growled Lady Rety, as she walked to and fro in the room.--”My friend,” said she, turning to her antagonist, ”please to consider my position. You know I have not one fourth part of the money in my possession; and the bills, to be valid, must have my husband's signature. How can I induce him to consent to so great a sacrifice?”
”I know your ladys.h.i.+p's power too well! Nothing can be easier for you than to induce the sheriff to sign the bills. Everybody knows how irresistible your ladys.h.i.+p is!”
Lady Rety made no reply to this cutting speech; but she turned, to hide the tears which bedewed her cheeks. The attorney walked to the window, and drew figures on the panes. After a long pause, the lady mustered up her resolution; and, boldly confronting the lawyer, she asked: ”Do you really mean to stand by your demand?”
”I do, indeed,” replied Mr. Catspaw.
”You will not let me have the papers under fifty thousand florins?”
”Certainly not.”
”Very well, sir; keep them!” said Lady Rety, with a loud laugh: ”keep them, sir! make the most of them! What do I care about Akosh's fortune now, since he _will_ marry the notary's daughter! and it was for his sake alone I wanted those cursed papers.”
”Am I to make the most of them? Am I, indeed?” said Mr. Catspaw, somewhat startled by the sudden turn of the debate.
”Of course you are!” said Lady Rety. ”I declare it's quite amusing! To think that I should have forgotten that I have no reason whatever to care for them since the young gentleman told me his mind! And as for you, my dear sir, indeed it grieves me, but your conduct of this evening will certainly induce me to re-consider my promise,--about the grant, you know.”
”Nothing more natural. The papers have possibly lost their former value in your ladys.h.i.+p's eyes; nothing can be more natural, woman's heart is so changeable! but, in my eyes, they retain much of their original value. That value, madam,” said Mr. Catspaw, seizing the lady's hand, and affectionately pressing it, ”is enhanced by the _manner_ in which we became possessed of them.”
”_We?_ Mr. Catspaw! What do you mean, sir?”