You remarked that you were the husband of another."
"True."
"And furthermore you said you had a right to seek my husband in this
room?"
"You certainly know your alphabet."
"Then you have--O, what will become of us!--you have--a demand to make
of my husband."
"No, he has a claim on me, and this I will pay back, principal and
interest."
"O, the monster! The crocodile! He has been untrue to me."
"Yes, both in heart and desire; but my wife is not one who cries out, or
attempts to pull the bell-rope. She commands respect without so much
trouble."
"And do I not, also?"
"I do not know what you would do, if you should see a man, at this time
of night, crawl through your window, and attempt to bring you to
disgrace by the promise that he would release an old father from prison;
but I do know you have nothing to fear at present."
"You are then Mr. Ragnar Lonner?"
"I am."
"And for such a miserable reward--that woman--"
"What! Miserable reward!--that woman!--Well, that night lamp is not very
brilliant, but I can easily perceive that I have before me an old dutch
galleon, so badly rigged and managed, that I would prefer to crowd sail
and make my escape rather than to take her in tow.
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